Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are coping with the worst flooding in more than a century with at least 35 people reported deaths. From 13 May onwards three months’ worth of rain on the region fell in just a few days, causing the river Sava to burst its banks and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes.

The EU is providing assistance to the affected areas through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism programme, and the funds were made available on 17 May. With the help of the European Commission, the participating countries pool the resources that can be made available to disaster-stricken areas. Upon Serbia’s request high capacity water pumps, rescue boats and operational teams have been sent by member states.

Helicopters and motor boats arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the evacuation of residents and to bring water, medicines and food to residences in the affected areas. More help is on the way as the country requested pumps, generators, tents and gas heaters for tents to respond to the critical situation.

EU civil protection teams are working in both countries to help national authorities and the incoming assistance. The water is slowly declining but the situation remains complex with continuing landslides. It is estimated that 50,000 people may be affected by the floods.

The Eastern Bosnian town of Bijeljina is reported to be one of the worst-hit areas where 10,000 people need to be evacuated. About a million people, a quarter of the Bosnian population, live in the affected area. According to police chief Gojko Vasic, no one could have resisted as “the flood waters acted as a tsunami, three to four meters high.”

In some areas of Serbia the water reached the second floor of peoples’ homes. Thousands of stranded residents had to be brought to safety and dozens of schools and sports centres were turned into shelters. More than 6,000 people have been displaced and 300,000 homes are without electricity.