European Youth Forum calls on international community to support flood relief effort in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The European Youth Forum has today called on the international community to support the relief effort following the devastating floods, which have swept across Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina this weekend.

The floods, the worst ever recorded in this region have left many people in dire need. The situation is critical with thousands of people being evacuated; many of them are still waiting to be rescued. Many young people and youth organisations are active in the relief effort in the three countries affected.

The European Youth Forum is supporting its members, the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS) and Croation Youth Netwok (MMH), in their call for urgent help from the European community.

According to KOMS, police and army in helicopters are trying to prevent further damage in the town of Obrenovac, south of Belgrade, after the Kolubara River burst its banks and flooded 90 per cent of the town.

Floods are threatening to leave one third of Serbia without electricity. Forecasters expect the Sava River to rise in the coming days due to the rainfall upstream in Bosnia and Croatia.

A state of emergency has been declared in Bosnia also, after the heaviest flooding in past 120 years. “People need assistance in basic groceries, clothing and hygienic supplies. Many people are left homeless due to the landslides and flooding, and unfortunately first victims are marked. The whole country is on its feet and volunteers are making efforts to help in affected areas such as Maglaj, Doboj, Zavidovici, Bijeljina, Bosanski Samac, Vogosca”, as Lamija Terzimehic, journalist from Sarajevo informed them.

For further information:

Contacts:

Marko Paunovic | Brussels | marko@outofthebox-international.org |+32495948417

Milena Stosic | Belgrade | milena.stosic@koms.rs | +38169738446

Assistance for those in need can be paid into the dinar account of the Serbian government 840-3546721-89, purpose of payment: removal of consequences of the emergency situation – floods. The number of the foreign currency account to which assistance can be deposited is: 01-504619-100193230-000000-0000. Ministry of Interior of Republic of Serbia: pomoc.vanrednasituacija@mup.gov.rs

Payments can also be made to the Serbian Government, to be used exclusively for flood relief, through PayPal account: floodrelief@gov.rs

Donations to the Red Cross of Republic Srpska: NLB RAZVOJNA BANKA A.D., SWIFT CODE: RAZBBA22, IBAN:

BA395620128039461369, client name: CRVENI KRST REPUBLIKE SRPSKE, client address:

SRPSKIH RATNIKA 1, 71 420 PALE Account number: 508-4101833294

Donations to the Red Cross of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation: RAIFFEISEN BANK d.d. BiH, SWIFT CODE: RZBABASS, IBAN:

BA391610000000850119, client name: CRVENI KRIZ FEDERACIJE BIH SARAJEVO, client address: NEDIMA FILIPOVICA 9, 71000 SARAJEVO

To donate to flood relief in Croatia:
* making a cash transfer to the bank account IBAN: HR 6923400091511555516 ref. nr. 08* (multi-currency account SWIFT: PBZGHR2X)
*calling a donation telephone 060 90 11 (6,25 kuna, VAT included)
* making an on-line donation (http://www.hck.hr/.../emergency-appeal-for-flood-affected...).
The following items are urgently needed:

• mattresses
• Linen
• Bunk beds
• Diapers for children and adults
• socks
• underwear
• Children's Clothing
• Torches
• Batteries for flashlights
• Hygiene products (soap, toilet paper, paper towels, sanitary napkins, toothbrushes, toothpaste ...)
• Aseptol tags 5P
• Rubber boots

The best way is to call the embassies of the countries affected in your country and ask if items gathered can be delivered through them. If not, you can contact the Red Cross.