Eastern Serbia hit by record flooding
levels
Serbia has declared a state of emergency
in several regions after the Danube and its tributaries reached their highest
level for a century, causing major flooding across the Balkans. The floods
have submerged hundreds of houses, leaving 11,000 people displaced or homeless.
On Friday 21 April, Save the Children visited the village of Stari Kostolac where 250 houses had been flooded, with water reaching the rooftops in some cases. 60 people were evacuated to surrounding villages. Those people who decided to stay in the flooded houses are using boat as a means of transport. The only primary school is not open due to the state of emergency but it is expected to open after the Easter holidays. Save the Children delivered nappies, hygiene items and socks to 170 children who lacked these items.
Save the Children will continue to monitor the situation in Serbia to ensure that the needs of children in the most affected areas are being met by local and national authorities - and that those children cut off from their schools still have access to education and health services.
