OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Serbia & Montenegro: Floods
6 May 2005


This situation report is based on information received from the UN 
agencies, funds and programmes resident in SCG and the Information 
Centre of the northern Serbian Province of Vojvodina, as well as 
information obtained from local media.

Situation

1. The emergency situation is being managed by the national disaster 
response system. Thanks to improved weather conditions, floodwaters are 
receding in the affected villages. The level of water in Jasa Tomic 
village as of 7 a.m. of 6 May morning is 524 cm, 4 cm lower than in the 
past 24 hours. The situation of the Danube-Tisa-Danube canal has also 
improved.

2. The number of people in the 4 collective centres has decreased to 
155. According to preliminary estimates some 600 people have been 
rendered homeless.

3. Some 120 tons of cattle and other animal carcasses have been disposed 
of in the town abattoir in Zrenjanin, Vojvodina. Animals that survived 
the flood have been properly vaccinated and there is no sign of 
epidemics. The majority of surviving cattle have been sold to processing 
plants, as there are no places were to keep them.

4. Three schools need urgent repair and to be disinfected. Apart from 
mid-Banat, the flood brought about the contamination of the water supply 
in southern Banat; drinking water is provided by means of cisterns and 
bottled water.

5. Damages to agriculture have been reported as follows:

- In the Municipality of Secanj: Around 1,900 ha of fields have been 
flooded; sunflower seed is needed in the amount of 2,000 kg, maize seed 
- 24,000 kg, soy seed - 36,000 kg.

- In the Municipality of Zitiste: Around 1,500 ha flooded; seed needs: 
sunflower - 2,500 kg, maize - 20,000 kg.

- Municipality of Plandiste: Around 1,600 ha flooded; seed needs: 
sunflower - 2,500 kg, maize - 8,000 kg, soy - 84,000 kg.

National Response

6. On 30 April, the President to the Executive Council of Vojvodina 
delivered 150 tons of humanitarian aid to the affected areas in 
mid-Banat. Assistance was provided by the Reserves of Vojvodina 
(emergency food supplies), Belgrade City Assembly, Democratic Youth of 
Vojvodina as well as the private sector. A convoy containing flour, 
pasta, salt, sugar, oil, bottled water, potatoes, detergents, milk, 
juice, 15 sacks filled with clothes, as well as hygiene sets, including 
100 baby-hygiene sets, as well as 23 tons of stock-feed.

7. Coordination mechanisms with Romania have been established. A joint 
delegation visited the area flooded in both countries on 5-6 May, and is 
making a joint localization/evacuation plan.  The Council has also 
suggested that the Defence Ministry of SCG prepares for ratification an 
agreement with Romania and Hungary that would boost joint disaster 
management in the future.

8. The process of relocation of population from collective centres, 
aimed at preventing the outbreak of epidemics, is underway. The area is 
being monitored daily by the sanitary inspectors and epidemiologists of 
the Institute for Public Health (IPH) in Zrenjanin, while the IPH in 
Novi Sad (the capital of Vojvodina) has a coordination role. The quality 
of drinking water is tested 3 times a week. High levels of arsenic have 
been detected in the water and the probability is that the water pipes 
will have to be phased out after the water has withdrawn. Rodents pose a 
major issue; Belgrade authorities have received a request to help out 
with their eradication; there is a risk of food contamination and 
hemorrhagic fever.

9. Proper medical care is also being rendered to the affected 
population, especially those persons who are situated in collective 
centres. The equipment used by the IPH in Zrenjanin is 25 years old and 
the Secretariat of the Executive Council of the Province of Vojvodina 
has been asked to provide for the laboratories.

10. The Provincial Government is considering the possibility of 
relieving the primary school pupils from the affected area from the 
obligation of taking the secondary school entrance exam.

11. People's Office within the Cabinet of the President of Serbia is 
appealing for the following priority relief needs: waterproof clothes, 
canned food, hygienic/baby parcels and cash.

In-country International Assistance

12. UNICEF visited the flooded area on 28 April and WHO visited the IPH 
in Zrenjanin on 4 May. A Flood Relief Task Force (TF) currently 
consisting of the representatives of FAO, UNDP, WHO, UNICEF and UNHCR 
was established last week. The Task Force decided on the following:

- Having considered the de facto situation, the TF concluded that the 
emergency phase is over and that UNCT should look into the 
rehabilitation needs;

- UNCT will decide on the allocation of 30,000 USD received from OCHA in 
coordination with the IFRC and the coordination point on the national 
side;

- Heads of Agencies are advised to organize a meeting with the 
international donor community in order to discuss the rehabilitation 
phase, present the situation as perceived by the UNCT and suggest 
partnerships;

- The TF supports the strengthening of the UNCT's capacities in the area 
of disaster management.

13. This Situation Report and information on ongoing emergencies is also 
available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Tel. +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
   Mr. Ricardo Mena
     Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1455
     E-mail: menar@un.org
   Ms. Charlotta Benedek
     Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1205
     E-mail: benedek@un.org

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. +1-917-892 1669

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