When disaster strikes – solidarity in crisis

When natural disasters hit, the people affected are in need of immediate and swift help. States have developed protocols and services to respond first; however sometimes not even good planning can anticipate the scales of some natural disasters, nor the area or number of people affected. The situation is even worse in countries with outdated protocols and small disaster/emergency budgets. Protecting lives and reducing suffering becomes a case for practicing community solidarity and support in order to reach all those who need help, as international humanitarian aid takes more time to deliver.

The countries of the Western Balkans found themselves in such a state of emergency in May 2014 when Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia were hit by large-scale floods and the safety of more than 150,000 people was threatened.

Lending a helping hand
The European Movement in Serbia (EMinS) immediately took an active role in alarming the international community, raising funds and distributing humanitarian aid to citizens in the affected areas.

Firstly, all employees in the Movement donated 10 percent of their monthly salary together with redirecting 50,000 dinars acquired via the Movement’s commercial activities during 2014 to the governmentally established flood relief account.

EMinS sent an appeal out to all its members, affiliated organisations, sister organisations, and European Movement National Councils around Europe, to engage in collecting humanitarian aid and spreading information regarding the difficult situation in the region. The appeal was sent in order to inform the European public, institutions and the movement’s members about the size of the tragedy and its impact, and to support efforts towards reconstruction and to bring help to some of the worst hit.

During a six month period, thanks to members, associates and friends of the movement, who responded to the appeal, EMinS was able to collect a total of 240,237.14 RSD (around 2,000 EUR).

EMinS’ local councils in 14 Serbian cities and other members of its Network were also actively involved in collecting provisions and spreading the word on the most urgent needs of stricken areas. Humanitarian aid was then distributed according to citizens’ needs on the spot.

From late May until November 2014, EMinS delivered material aid to more than 50 families in different parts of Serbia. Towns such as the most heavily hit Obrenovac (near the capital Belgrade), Svilajnac, Paraćin and Smederevska Palanka in Central Serbia, and two villages in Krupanj municipality in the West of Serbia, received baby food and equipment, personal hygienic supplies, mattresses, beds with bedding, shoes for adults, school supplies for children, and other essential provisions.

Leveraging our network
Despite the limited resources and small scale of its actions EMinS was one of the most active Serbian civil society organisations and responded promptly by organising its network of CSOs to exchange information and coordinate aid distribution. Civil society in Serbia found a niche and was able to act in this time of crisis, while complementing the efforts of the state institutions. It proved to be adequate and in some parts essential in providing relief to some of the hardest hit people, as well as providing consolation to those affected.