Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, and Team Leader/Coordinator for the Recovery Needs Assessment on behalf of the EU, Ricardo Zapata Marti, held a press conference today in Sarajevo to present the activities related to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s recovery needs following the floods.
The Recovery Needs Assessment, led by the BiH authorities and supported by the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank, will assess the impact of the floods on the lives of people and essential sectors in the affected areas. Mr Ricardo Zapata Marti, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 together with other members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is the Team Leader/Co-ordinator of the assessment exercise.
Having expressed the EU’s sympathy for and solidarity with those affected by the devastating floods, Ambassador Sorensen said:
“We have seen an unprecedented rescue effort from the EU to date. 20 Member States have been involved and over 3,000 people have been rescued in BiH through EU teams. Now the EU is making 3 million Euro available for immediate humanitarian needs and we are discussing further financial assistance in the order of 42 million Euro with the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities. This will come from IPA funds for different recovery and assistance projects in BiH. It is expected that this money will be available by the end of June. Following the needs assessment we will see what more is needed. This represents full solidarity from the EU.”
Mr. Zapata explained in detail the techniques and methodology of the Recovery Needs Assessment and said that the final costs and size of the damage will be known only after the process is over.
The Recovery Needs Assessment will be an important reference document for BiH authorities and international organisations in decision-making about future assistance funds.
For more information see:
Recovery Needs Assessment Factsheet
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