Belgrade, October 22, 2024 – Due to climate change, floods are expected to pose an increasing risk in Serbia.However, if a situation like the 2014 floods were to occur today, the damage in Serbia would be up to 90 per cent less in certain places. This is the assessment of a study presented today at the regional conference “Ten Years After the 2014 Floods”, organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia with the support of the European Union.
The Study indicates that flood damage would be significantly reduced today, thanks to improvements in the legal framework, better coordination between institutions in disaster prevention and response, investments in flood defence infrastructure, and implemented professional development programs in risk management.
At the opening of the conference, the Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Emanuele Giaufret, recalled that since the International Donors’ Conference in Brussels, in July 2014, the EU has contributed approximately 250 million euros for disaster risk reduction measures in Serbia. This support has enabled the rehabilitation of over 2,400 homes, dozens of critical facilities, and 73 bridges, while helping over 36,000 agricultural households restart their livelihoods.
„10 years on from the devastating floods of 2014, the EU and Serbia have demonstrated that, when we work together, we can face natural disasters and contribute to a better world for our citizens. In an increasingly challenging situation due to climate change and the difficult situations it creates, the EU and Serbia have done a lot over the past 10 years to prevent floods and to mitigate the risks. Equipment was bought, congested canals were cleared so water can flow away, early warning-mechanisms installed to possibly evacuate people if needed“, emphasized H.E. Giaufret, commending Serbia for its participation in the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, including extinguishing wildfires in Greece and helping Bosnia and Herzegovina during floods.
The State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) of the Republic of Serbia, Vladan Zagrađanin, stated that in 2024 alone, the MoI’s Emergency Management Sector provided assistance to other countries 13 times, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, helping not only in mitigating the effects of floods but also in responding to other natural disasters.
„In the past ten years, the Ministry of the Interior has further developed the disaster risk reduction and emergency management system and strengthened its ability to respond effectively to any challenge. Our rescue teams have provided assistance during unprecedented disasters in Turkey and Greece, and with the acquisition of two firefighting helicopters, our helicopter unit is now equipped to provide vital support to both our citizens and neighbouring countries“, added Zagrađanin.
The two-day conference “Ten Years After the 2014 Floods” brought together representatives of governments, international development partners and decision-makers in the field of disaster risk financing from the Western Balkans. The aim is to strengthen regional cooperation in building disaster resilience within the framework of EU integration of the Western Balkan countries. Participants will particularly focus on areas that need improvements, as well as on securing more investments in risk reduction and stable disaster resilience financing, especially considering the impact of climate change, which is expected to triple the number of days with extreme rainfall.
The State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Čedomir Rakić, emphasised that water knows no boundaries and that the whole world must be prepared for the risks, as preventing consequences is more important than repairing damage.
„Thanks to funds from the budget of the Republic of Serbia, European Union funds, and loans, significant amounts have been invested in the maintenance of existing water structures and systems, as well as planning new ones. For the year 2024, 5,634,147,000 dinars have been allocated for water management, with 4,407,827,000 dinars set aside for regulation of watercourses and protection against the harmful effects of water“, noted Rakić, adding that the trend of investments in this area is on the rise.
The State Secretary at the Ministry for Public Investment, Boban Birmančević, emphasised that Serbia has enhaced the resilience of its disaster risk management system, which is reflected not only in better infrastructure and regulatory framework, but also in an increased preparedness of citizens and institutions to face the challenges posed by natural disasters. ‘Our goal is not only to reduce risk, but also to create a safer and more resilient society that is ready to respond to future challenges“, added Birmančević.
“Thanks to the EU and other international development partners, UNDP continuously supports the Government of Serbia in improving legislation and inter-municipal cooperation, equipping and training members of local emergency and civil protection teams, and developing new digital tools for disaster planning and readiness,” said Fabrizio Andreuzzi, UNDP Serbia Deputy Resident Representative.
On the second day of the conference, an upgraded version of the Disaster Risk Register will be presented. This geographic information database containing all identified risks for the territory of the Republic of Serbia, now also includes data on health risks and crucial information for protecting public health in emergency health situations and natural disasters, such as the data on capacities of healthcare institutions. On the second day of the conference there will also be a simulation of how the Register is used in the event of floods, landslides and fires.
The “Ten Years After the 2014 Floods” conference is organized within the “EU for Serbia resilient to Disasters” initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.