Yesterday, on Tuesday January 12, 2010, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) based in Geneva, Switzerland, announced to have released CHF 83,930 ($82,400 or €56,870) through its key emergency response tool, the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), to support the Red Cross Society of Montenegro (CKCG) in delivering immediate assistance to some 1,100 flood victims in Montenegro.

Press release: DREF operation n° MDRME002, January 12, 2010

Extreme rainfalls, which began in December last year and have continued up to January 10, 2010, have caused serious material damages in a great part of the country. A large number of houses in the area surrounding the Lake Skadar, the municipality of Ulcinj, the vicinity of River Bojana, the municipality of Golubovci, the villages of the Zeta Plain, the municipalities of Cetinje, Rijeka Crnojevića, Žabljak Crnojevića, the Bjelopavlići Plain and the municipality of Nikšić have been flooded. Some 1,100 persons, equivalent to 245 households, have had to be promptly evacuated from their homes.

The Government of Montenegro, within its mechanisms for disaster response and sector for emergency situations and civil protection, dealt with the consequences of the flooding. It has been working on mitigation too, having in mind that the situation could deteriorate in the coming days. Government representatives have invited all the municipalities to participate in the rescue actions, with their resources and mechanisms.

The Red Cross Society of Montenegro immediately began responding, in co-ordination and co-operation with the governmental and local authorities. Governmental bodies established teams to rescue and evacuate the population. Taking into consideration the difficulties that these people were facing, the Army and the Navy of Montenegro has been engaged, helping fix electric and waterworks systems, save property, deliver food, drinking water and other resources necessary.

The Ministry of Health was also active, and all the Health Centres have been opened with doctors on standby. At the local level, Red Cross branches participated in the work of Municipal Crisis Headquarters, monitoring the situation in the field, assessing the consequences and communicating with other stakeholders. At the national level, the Disaster Management Department of the Montenegrin Red Cross was constantly communicating with the governmental institution in charge of rescue and protection. The Red Cross already sent 150 pairs of rubber boots and 150 raincoats to the affected population in Žabljak Crnojevića, Rijeka Crnojevića, Ulcinj, Bjelopavlici Plain and Golubovci, as an initial response. At the moment, the Society is distributing jackets, shirts and vests; 250 pieces of each. Also, according to the needs of the affected population for drinking water, 50 5-litre bottles of water were distributed; the Red Cross of Montenegro offered in addition supplies from its warehouse to 300 flood victims.

People living in the disaster areas urgently need temporary shelter, hygiene and sanitary items, drinking water and food. Since heavy rainfalls are continuing, and the situation is deteriorating, inhabitants have had to be evacuated. At present, there are 245 households in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. These persons are facing a serious situation, since there is no electricity in their homes; there is no drinking water or basic food and hygiene items. All household items are damaged, meaning that people cannot conduct their daily routines of preparing meals or maintaining rudimentary hygiene. Together with the local and national protection and rescue services, Red Cross teams created a preliminary list of the affected population, as well as of their basic needs in this emergency situation. As already implied, the needs of these population groups are complex and require sufficient amounts of food, drinking water, blankets, jerrycans, clothes, rubber boots and raincoats to be provided.

The DREF operation n° MDRME002 is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 14 April 2010; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 14 July, 2010).

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Contact:
Red Cross Society of Montenegro
Mr. Momčilo Martinović, Montenegro Red Cross Disaster Management Co-ordinator
Tel. +382 (0)69 334 262
E-mail: