Press Release: EU assistance underway for flood victims in Serbia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina

A number of countries in the Balkans, in particular Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia, were badly affected by flooding in May 2014. The flooding came after more than thirty days of average rainfall fell in three days, which left more than 35 dead and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

The authorities said the financial impact of the floods would be huge, devastating the agricultural sector that was vital to the region’s economies.

But in this hour of need the erstwhile enemies in the countries of former Yugoslavia now helped each other, commentators remarked, surprised at this show of solidarity.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 18.05.14: Balkan floods: Fears of new surge on Serbia's River Sava http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27459184

Euronews, 18.05.14: Dozens dead, tens of thousands evacuated from Balkans flooding http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/18/dozens-dead-tens-of-thousands-evacuated-from-balkans-flooding/

ESO: Background information: Serbia and Bosnia hit by record flooding http://www.europeansources.info/record/serbia-and-bosnia-hit-by-record-flooding/

Euro|Topics, 19.05.14: Western Balkans fight flooding http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER143652-Western-Balkans-fight-flooding

The Guardian, 19.05.14: Serbia floods threaten country's biggest power plant http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/may/19/serbia-floods-threaten-biggest-power-plant

Balkan Insight, 19.05.14: Serbia Braces for New Flood Wave http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbia-readies-for-new-flood-wave

Deutsche Welle, 18.05.14: Flooding in Balkans triggers landslides, disturbs minefields http://dw.de/p/1C28p

The Guardian, 18.05.14: Serbia and Bosnia flooding forces thousands to flee homes http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/18/serbia-bosnia-flooding-thousands-flee-river-sava

EurActiv, 20.05.14: EU committed to helping flooded Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/eu-committed-helping-flooded-serbia-bosnia-and-herzegovina-302236

Balkan Insight, 20.05.14: Serbia Struggles to Control Flood Disaster http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbia-continues-to-battle-flood-disaster

Deutsche Welle, 20.05.14: Floods in Bosnia-Herzegovina expose land mines http://dw.de/p/1C2p7

BBC News, 19.05.14: Balkan floods: 'Quarter of Bosnia' without clean water http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27477593

Euronews, 19.05.14: Obrenovac: Serbia’s flood-hit ‘ghost-town’ http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/19/obrenovac-serbia-s-flood-hit-ghost-town/

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/14/589: EU steps up assistance for flood victims in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as Commissioner Georgieva visits the region http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-589_en.pdf

BBC News, 21.05.14: Bosnia and Serbia floods: EU promises fast delivery of aid http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27501401

Balkan Insight, 21.05.14: Serbia Battles to Save Power Plant From Floods http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbia-prepares-for-new-potential-flood-wave-1

EurActiv, 23.05.14: Waters recede in Western Balkans, but danger remains http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/waters-recede-western-balkans-danger-remains-302350

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/378: The European Union's support to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina after the floods http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-378_en.pdf

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