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Montenegro: Floods DREF Operation No. MDRME001 Update No. 1

Países
Montenegro
Fuentes
IFRC
Fecha de publicación

GLIDE no. FL-2007-000220-SRB

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.

Period covered by this update: 26 November to 14 December, 2007.

Summary: CHF 62,578 (USD 55,973 or € 37,926) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the national society in delivering immediate assistance to some 1,086 beneficiaries.

The Red Cross of Montenegro branches in the municipalities affected by the floods have been monitoring the situation and assessing the needs of the population. The most vulnerable population, 70 evacuated families in the municipality of Rozaje have been supported through the provision of relief assistance (hygiene parcels, blankets and jerry cans). The procurement of goods as listed in the DREF budget is ongoing.

The Netherlands Red Cross contributed to the replenishment of the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund with an allocation of €18,025.

This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by March, 2008; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by May 2008).

The situation

Severe flooding affected the area of Kolašin in central Montenegro on 26 November 2007, mostly in the upper stretches of the river Tara. In Kolasin municipality, the river broke one part of the dam at Be ova bara. Rescue teams were trying to prevent further water overflow near the urban settlement of Lug all day on 26

November. The gravest situation was in the villages under the mountain of Kom in Mataševo and Skrbuša, but also in one part of Kolašin, Trebaljevo and Sjerogošt.

The floods continued in the following days, affecting the municipalities of Andrijevica, Berane, Rozaje, Plav, Mojkovac, Bijelo Polje and Podgorica as well. The situation was the gravest in Rozaje, where more than a hundred families were evacuated from their flooded homes. The towns of Berane and Andrijevica also suffered great damage; around 40 more households were severely affected. In Andrijevica, the floods damaged three bridges on the river Krastica in the following villages: Prljanija, Oblo brdo and Obzovik. Local roads between Djulice-Kuti, Andrijevica-Kuti, Djulice-Josanica and the main road between Andrijevica - Berane were severely damaged. In the basin of the Sekularska river the waterworks were damaged (waterpipes were damaged over a distance of more than 100m), leaving the local population with no access to drinking water. In Berane, the water from public waterworks cannot be used for drinking either. Smaller scale damage was also reported in the remaining municipalities and 50 more households needed assistance.

In the following days, the water levels in the rivers have receded, and there is no danger of new flooding. The damage made on the households is being repaired. Most of the evacuated families still stay with their host families (relatives and friends), waiting for the financial support from the municipality in order to make their heavily damaged homes suitable for living again.

The Red Cross of Montenegro branches have been acting in unison with the local crisis headquarters in the affected municipalities, joining in the assessment of needs and the response to the floods. The local Red Cross in Berane has distributed some basic relief items:

Hygiene items
156
Baby sets
26
Clothes and shoes
For 104 people

Coordination and partnerships

All the actions are coordinated by the municipality crisis headquarters, and the Red Cross local branches have their representatives in these bodies. These crisis headquarters coordinate the activities of all the stakeholders participating in the alleviation of the impact of the disaster. The Red Cross local branches also played an important role in the needs assessment together with other parties.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Montenegro: Red Cross of Montenegro, Slobodan Kalezic, Secretary General, phone: +382 81 241 819; email: ckcg@cg.yu or Momcilo Martinovic, Disaster Management coordinator, phone: +382 81 241 819; Fax: +382 81 241 613; email: djelovanje.unesrecama@ckcg.cg.yu

In the Belgrade Representation: Nebojsa Medojevic, Disaster Management coordinator, e-mail: nebojsa.medojevic@ifrc.org

In the Central European Regional Representation: Slobodanka Curic, Regional Disaster Management Coordinator, Budapest, phone: +36 20 3440122; fax: +36 1 248 33 22; email: slobodanka.curic@ifrc.org

In the Europe Zone Office: Leon Prop, Deputy Head of Zone, Budapest, phone: + 36 1 248 3300, fax: +36 1 248 3322, email: leon.prop@ifrc.org

In Geneva: Linda A. Stops, Operations Coordinator, phone: +41 22 730 4300, fax: +41 22 733 0395, email: linda.stops@ifrc.org