Dr. Lagumdzija with Ambassadors and Heads of International organizations accredited to B&H: Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens need urgent assistance for recovery and reconstruction



Today, on 19 May, 2014, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr. Zlatko Lagumdzija met with Ambassadors and Heads of International organizations accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Topics of the meeting were the current situation in B&H regarding natural disasters – the floods that affected great part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and providing urgent humanitarian assistance, as well as assistance for repairing the damage and reconstruction of buildings destroyed due to the floods and many landslides.

Dr. Lagumdzija emphasized that assistance to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina affected by the floods should be carried out in two phases. In the first phase it is about providing urgent humanitarian assistance and emergency relief to people, water supply, prevention of infections and epidemics after the withdrawal of water, medical care for vulnerable people and enabling basic communications. The second phase will last longer and it relates to support in repairing the damage and reconstruction of areas affected by the floods. In addition to the reconstruction of destroyed or damaged public institutions such as hospitals, schools, infrastructure, etc., special attention should be paid to the support for a private sector recovery, not only the reconstruction of their buildings, but also a private businesses that were completely destroyed and they are now just the owners of the outstanding loans. Special problem is enormous damage suffered by farmers and small entrepreneurs and the state and international organization must find the way to help them.

It is also agreed for the next meeting to be held on 4 June, 2014, so the B&H side could prepare more accurate damage assessment and define specific needs for the second phase – reconstruction and on the other side Ambassadors and Heads of International organizations accredited to B&H will receive more information about methods of support to B&H.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was also attended by Deputy Minister of Security Mladen Cavar and Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of B&H for Resources Lt. General Senad Masovic.

Dr. Lagumdzija emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing one of the most difficult natural disasters in its history which affected around one million of the population and approximately 25% of the territory. Unfortunately, according to the current information many lives have been lost, tens of thousands of people have had to leave their homes, while material damage is comparable to the war destruction.

Dr. Lagumdzija took this opportunity to express his profound gratitude to all countries and international organizations for providing assistance to our country in the form of helicopters, boats and other equipment and special thanks to brave men and women from many countries who have conducted the rescue operations and delivered humanitarian aid.

Dr. Lagumdzija said that institutions and relevant authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels managed to coordinate relief efforts and, according to data of the Ministry of Security, there are currently around 200 rescue teams on the ground ( at local, entity and state level and foreign teams), as well as 12 helicopters.

Dr. Lagumdzija informed Heads of Missions accredited to B&H of a serious problem of the large number of landslides and some of them destroyed entire settlements. He said that the exact number can not still be confirmed, but according to certain assessments, it is about a few thousand and this number is expected to be increased.

He also pointed out that floods and landslides destroyed a great part of transport infrastructure and that is why many cities and villages remained isolated, as well as industry zones and buildings such as Natron Hayat in Maglaj. Extremely high damages are expected in terms of agriculture harvest while special problem will be non-exploded devices and mines which have been shifted in many marked and unmarked places due to floods, flooding and landslides.

Dr. Lagumdzija noted that the exact amount of damage will be cleared afetrwards when relevant commissions inspect all affected areas, but it is for sure that Bosnia and Herzegovina will need international support in repairing all damages. The attendees agreed that solidarity of international community must be shown in this situation as well.