10/8/2024
In a rapid response to the humanitarian emergency caused by catastrophic floods in Bosnia, Qatar Charity’s office in Sarajevo has provided urgent humanitarian assistance to affected individuals, benefiting up to 500 disaster-stricken families so far. Qatar Charity is at the forefront of international organizations that intervened immediately after the floods, coordinating with government entities, local authorities, and the Bosnian Red Cross.
Heavy rains have led to devastating landslides, resulting in over 20 fatalities and more than 40 people reported missing, with local authorities warning of rising numbers. Tens of thousands have been displaced from their affected areas. Among the hardest-hit regions is the city of Jablanica, located about 70 kilometers southwest of the capital, Sarajevo, which has been isolated from the rest of the country due to rising water levels and landslides.
Immediate Assistance
Following the disaster, Qatar Charity directed its field team in Bosnia to immediately move to the most affected areas to provide urgent help. The first phase of this assistance included the distribution of personal hygiene kits and essential shelter supplies to help families who lost their homes due to the floods. Currently, 500 affected families have benefited from these efforts.
The aid provided by Qatar Charity also included specialized equipment such as water pumps to assist civil defense teams in managing accumulated water hazards, along with hand tools necessary for clearing debris left by landslides around damaged homes. Additionally, the organization is currently preparing food baskets, each containing essential supplies to be distributed in the coming days, benefiting 450 affected families and intended to provide a month’s worth of food for each family.
Direct Field Supervision
Mr. Hassan Mohammed Al-Naimi, the general supervisor of Qatar Charity’s office in Bosnia, who is leading the on-ground relief efforts, explained that this assistance is part of Qatar’s ongoing support for its brothers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He emphasized that Qatar Charity aims through these efforts to alleviate the suffering of the affected populations living under difficult conditions following this natural disaster. He added, "Our presence here reflects our enduring commitment to stand by our Bosnian brothers in tough times and provide everything necessary to support them."
For his part, Mr. Mohamed Washan, the director of Qatar Charity’s office in Bosnia, stated that the immediate intervention is part of the organization’s commitment to rapid response in humanitarian crises. He noted that the current aid aligns with international humanitarian efforts and is coordinated with local authorities in Bosnia, including the Red Cross and governmental institutions, to ensure that assistance reaches the most affected areas effectively and swiftly.
Qatar Charity continues its efforts in coordination with official entities to meet the increasing needs of the affected individuals. Plans are underway to scale up assistance in the coming days based on on-site assessments of the damage. The organization also aims to gather support for implementing "recovery phase projects," which include providing medications and medical supplies to affected healthcare facilities to combat potential epidemics following the floods. These projects also involve providing clean water solutions, repairing homes and health facilities, and creating economic opportunities for the affected individuals through economic empowerment projects to ensure a return to normalcy in the devastated regions.