The EU is to send a team of civil protection experts to help with damage assessment and disaster recovery in areas of Macedonia hit by flash floods earlier this month that initially left 4 people dead. The deaths of two further victims were announced in the days following the disaster.
Six technical experts coordinated by the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre, such as civil engineers for assessment and early recovery of critical infrastructure, will be deployed from 13 to 24 August 2014.
“The EU stands by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to help in the response to this natural disaster. We have coordinated and responded in full solidarity to their call for assistance. I am grateful to all participating states for their reaction that made the deployment of the team possible. We remain in close contact with the relevant authorities in Skopje” said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides.
In addition to the deployment of experts, to further assist the disaster response, the Commission has also been providing Copernicus satellite imagery to the emergency services operating in the affected areas.
EU Civil Protection Mechanism
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism facilitates the cooperation in disaster response among 33 European states (28 EU Member States, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Norway, Montenegro and Serbia).
These participating states pool the resources that can be made available to disaster-stricken countries all over the world. When activated, the Mechanism coordinates the provision of assistance inside and outside the European Union. The European Commission manages the Mechanism through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre.
Tetovo Floods, Macedonia
In early August, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was struck by a major storm causing floods and mudslides. The rivers Pena and Porojska, both tributaries of river Vardar, overflowed in Tetovo municipality, in the North Western part of the country. The flash floods killed six people, including three children.
Dozens were injured and hundreds of homes and key infrastructure suffered severe damage. Mudslides engulfed local roads and cut off a number of mountain villages.
