Croatia, through EU Emergency Response Centre, sent two fire-fighting aircrafts to help with the forest fires in Bosnia and Herzegovina

23-8-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission Emergency Response Centre (ERC) is facilitating the urgent provision of assistance to extinguish the forest fires in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Two fire-fighting aircraft, offered by Croatia, are on their way to the affected area.

Assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina also in the beginning of August, when forest fires were raging in the country.

Background

The Emergency Response Centre of the European Commission co-ordinates assistance on the European level in the case of disasters and in this way ensures that help is efficient and effective.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism facilitates the cooperation in disaster response among 32 European states (EU Member States, FYROM, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The participating countries pool the resources that can be made available to disaster-stricken countries all over the world.

High temperatures currently affect the entire Balkan Region, elevating the risk of forest fires. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the area of Donja Jablanica the fire line expanded towards a nearby settlement.

In spite of 21 and 22 August’s helicopter operation, fire in the area of Slatina is still expanding rapidly down the slopes of Okorusa Hill towards a settlement and the second direction of expansion is down the slope towards the regional road M-16-2, with a possible expansion towards Hydro Power Plant Jablanica.

For more information

IP/13/771: EU Emergency Response Centre helps bring fire-fighting aeroplanes to tackle forest fires in Bosnia and Herzegovina

MEMO /13/663: Fighting forest fires in Europe: how it works

The European Commission’s humanitarian aid and civil protection:

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm

Commissioner Georgieva’s website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/georgieva/hot_topics/european_disaster_response_capacity_en.htm

Emergency Response Centre:

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/thematic/ERC_en.pdf

Contacts :

Irina Novakova (+32 2 295 75 17)
David Sharrock (+32 2 296 89 09)