Montenegro

To date in FY 2012, USAID has responded to two disasters in Montenegro—severe winter weather that produced a winter emergency throughout the country, as well as a fire that devastated a refugee settlement in Montenegro’s capital of Podgorica.

USG HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED IN FY 2012

*(As of September 4, 2012)

EMCA DRR Fact Sheet #1 (1.01mb PDF) and map (522kb PDF)

Key Developments

In February 2012, severe winter weather affected Montenegro, with areas in the north and center of the country receiving more than 2 meters of snow.  As of February 13, the winter emergency had resulted in the deaths of approximately four individuals, forced the closure of the Podgorica airport and major roadways throughout the country, and left thousands of people without electricity, according to the Government of Montenegro (GoM) and international media.  As many as 12,000 Montenegrins remained stranded in their homes due to heavy snowfall as of February 13, according to the GoM.  On February 11, the GoM declared a state of emergency for the entire country.  In mid-February, the GoM estimated that a significant number of citizens required emergency evacuation, as well as food and medicine. 

On February 13, 2012, U.S. Ambassador Sue K. Brown declared a disaster due to the effects of the winter emergency.  In response, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) provided $100,000 to the Red Cross of Montenegro to distribute emergency relief commodities, including hygiene kits and emergency medical equipment.

On July 24, 2012, a fire devastated a section of Camp Konik, a refugee settlement in Podgorica.  While the cause remains undetermined, severe dry weather and windy conditions contributed to the spread of the fire, which destroyed more than 150 dwellings and displaced approximately 800 refugees, according to the GoM.  The fire resulted in no reported injuries or fatalities.  The GoM responded by clearing the disaster site, constructing sanitation facilities and 85 tents, and providing food assistance, hygiene kits, and safe drinking water to the affected population. 

On July 27, 2012, Ambassador Brown declared a disaster due to the effects of the fires.  In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 to the Red Cross of Montenegro to purchase two ambulance containers and a mobile kitchen facility.