A resolution expressing condolences and supporting assistance for the victims of the historic flooding in the Western Balkans.

Bill: 113-sres-480
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2014-06-19
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Congressional tributes

Croatia

Department of Defense

Disaster relief and insurance

Europe

First responders and emergency personnel

Floods and storm protection

Foreign aid and international relief

Natural disasters

Serbia

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Latest action: action_date: 2014-06-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3867)

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-06-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Expresses: (1) sympathy to all those affected by the flooding in the Western Balkans for the terrible loss of life and massive destruction; and (2) solidarity with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia. </p> <p> Supports humanitarian and reconstruction assistance provided by relief agencies and the international community. </p> <p> Commends: (1) local authorities, first responders and rescue personnel, NGOs, volunteers, and everyday citizens for their efforts to organize and deliver disaster relief; and (2) U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), for their efforts.</p> <p>Urges additional assistance by other nations and organizations to alleviate the difficult circumstances and suffering of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia.</p>

tv_txt: III 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 480 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 19, 2014 Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Portman , and Mr. Murphy ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing condolences and supporting assistance for the victims of the historic flooding in the Western Balkans.

Whereas record rainfall beginning on May 13, 2014, has led to widespread flooding in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia, causing thousands of landslides, massive destruction, and loss of life; Whereas by May 22, 2014, the flooding caused over 40 deaths and impacted over 500,000 people across the region, particularly in western Serbia and eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina; Whereas the equivalent of 3 months of rain fell during the course of 3 days, making this the worst flooding event in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 120 years; Whereas the flooding has left thousands of people stranded in their homes waiting for assistance, displaced, or without shelter; Whereas according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 300,000 people in Serbia and 50,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina were left without clean water or electricity; Whereas the Foreign Ministry of Bosnia and Herzegovina has reported that the flooding rendered 100,000 buildings unusable, caused 500,000 people to evacuate or flee their homes, and prompted 14 municipalities to declare a state of emergency; Whereas the Government of Serbia has described the situation in that country as catastrophic , and estimates that at least 25,000 people have been forced to evacuate, particularly in the town and municipality of Obrenovac, and that the flooding has caused over 100,000,000 Euros ($140,000,000) in damage to the Kolubara coal mine that supplies the Nikola Tesla power plants; Whereas soldiers and energy workers scrambled to erect sandbag barriers to protect the Kostolac power plant and the Nikola Tesla power plants, which provide half of the country’s electricity, from the waters of the flooded Sava, Kolubara, and Tamnava Rivers; Whereas, according to the International Medical Corps, as many as 120,000 landmines remaining from the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s may have been lost or dislodged due to landslides, causing great concern for public safety; Whereas the United States Government has approved or provided $2,060,000 in funds through the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of United States Foreign Disaster Assistance, the Department of Defense, and the Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs for the Republic of Serbia; Whereas the United States Government has provided $2,740,000 in humanitarian assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Whereas the governments and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia share an increasing commitment to core democratic values, reconciliation, and European integration: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) expresses deep sympathy to all those affected by the flooding in the Western Balkans for the terrible loss of life and massive destruction; (2) expresses solidarity with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia, as well as a continued desire to provide assistance to help their countries recover from this natural disaster; (3) expresses ongoing support for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance provided by relief agencies and the international community as immediate and long-term needs are identified; (4) commends local authorities, first responders and rescue personnel, NGOs, volunteers, and everyday citizens for their efforts to organize and deliver disaster relief to communities in need across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia; (5) commends the United States Government agencies, including USAID and the Department of Defense, for their response to the natural disaster; and (6) urges additional assistance by other nations and organizations as needed to alleviate the difficult circumstances and suffering of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia, and to assist them in their recovery efforts.