U.S. Offers Disaster Relief, Support to Serbia’s First Responders
The U.S. recently provided humanitarian assistance to flood victims and protective equipment for Serbia’s firefighters through USAID’s Preparedness and Planning Program. The program aims to support municipalities in developing their disaster management capacity by building a sustainable, systematic approach to emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and prevention.
Recent floods in southern Serbia hit the municipality of Vlasotince hard; nearly 200 residents were evacuated and more than 1,000 families were affected. Once flood waters receded, local residents were faced with the difficult task of cleaning up and resuming their lives. To help them, USAID teamed up with the U.S. Department of Defense’s European Command (EUCOM) to provide $55,000 in immediate assistance, coordinating specific needs and amounts with the local administration, the Center for Social Work, communal enterprises, and the Serbian Red Cross. Together, they were able to provide 6,250 kilograms (13,779 pounds) of detergent, 3,400 kilograms (7,496 pounds) of disinfectant cleaning supplies, 500 packages of hand disinfectant, 12 mud pumps and 64 spray pumps to apply disinfectants, as well as diapers, blankets, and rubber gloves.
As part of its program, USAID also donated in firefighting equipment valued at $185,000 to the Sector for Protection and Rescue of the Ministry of Interior in Vranje to help improve their capacity to respond to fires in South Serbia. Fire is a particular threat in the region, which is plagued by summer wildfires as well as residential blazes resulting from people’s attempts to heat their homes in the cold winter months. Donated protective suits, breathing apparatus, compressors, and rescue lights for nighttime response will be used by rescue units serving the Jablanicki, Pcinjski, and Toplicki Districts.
Natural disasters and other environmental accidents that have affected Serbia in the last several years have shown that first responders at the local level play a key role in preventing and responding to a crisis. This summer's wildfires throughout Serbia caused mass destruction of forest preserves and grasslands, while the country’s many rivers constitute an ever-present risk for flooding. The current situation in Serbia requires first responders to rely on their own expertise and capacities in the immediate aftermath of a crisis. The better trained and equipped they are, the more capable they are to respond effectively. USAID’s program has been designed to help Serbia to mitigate the impact of disasters through better preparation.
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| Firefighters practice evacuated “wounded victims” from school |
Protective suits and breathing apparatus provided by the American people |
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