Floods bring new danger from landmines in Bosnia
26 June 2001

IWidespread flooding in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina has seriously affected thousands of people still struggling to recover in the aftermath of war. Mines which may have been moved by the waters also pose a serious threat to the population, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned today as it launched an appeal to help the flood victims.

Rivers burst their banks on 20 June after three days of heavy rain, inundating much of the Tuzla, Doboj, Banja Luka and Brcko areas and affecting more than 100,000 people. Homes and crops have been damaged or destroyed, and infrastructure seriously affected. Mudslides, a constant threat to the region after years of deforestation, have exacerbated problems, and the movement of earth and water has brought fresh danger from mines.

The newly-recognized Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina is appealing to people not to return to their homes immediately because mines have been moved by the disaster and existing knowledge of safe and unsafe areas is no longer reliable.

"As the water has gone down many people are going home to assess damage and salvage what they can," said Dr Mihat Haracic, chairman of the National Society's presidency. "Until fresh surveys can be done, they could be in extreme danger. The long-term consequences of the flooding should not be underestimated."

Due to timely evacuations, the floods have brought only one reported fatality and people have stayed with relatives or been accommodated in schools and other public buildings. Immediate needs include short-term relief assistance and the International Federation is seeking 277,100 Swiss francs to assist 7,000 flood victims for a month. Some 75,000 Swiss francs have already been made available from the Federation's disaster relief emergency fund, and food, blankets, water bladders and jerry cans have been distributed by Red Cross volunteers from existing stocks of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Sarajevo
Amna Cerimagic, Information Officer Tel: +387 33 66 60 09/+387 66 161 439
Budapest
John Sparrow, Head of Regional Communications Unit Tel: +361 319 3423/+36 20 340 2460
Geneva
Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer Tel: +41 22 730 4346/ + 41 79 416 3881

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.