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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Situation in the flooded area under control

Belgrade, 4 May 2005

Serbian Minister of Capital Investment Velimir Ilic, who is also acting as head of the government's crisis centre in charge of repairing flood damage in central Banat, said today that the situation in the flooded areas is under control and that the crisis centre is in permanent session.

Ilic told a press conference at the Serbian government that water in the inundated areas of central Banat is slowly receding, that dikes are stable, and that the aid to the citizens is regularly coming in.

He said that the Serbian and provincial governments have so far sent more than €2 million in food, oil and first aid supplies to the flooded area. All citizens have been given a one-off aid worth 10,000 dinars and fully-grown livestock is being bought off.

Ilic reiterated that the Serbian government, in cooperation with the provincial government, will repair everything that was swept away by floods. Representatives of the crisis centre and provincial authorities are constantly in the field and with the help of the army, gendarmerie and construction and road firms, they work round the clock to prevent water from breaking the dikes and inundating all of Banat.

He confirmed that 40 major Serbian businessmen promised to give help worth 100 million dinars for the reconstruction of the flooded area. Ilic will meet tomorrow with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica to discuss that issue.

Serbian Minister of Economy and member of the crisis centre Predrag Bubalo called on citizens who are in the position to help to do so and to send donations in an organised manner through crisis centres and not individually.

He said that it is necessary to send assistance in an organised manner so that it can reach those who really need it and to avoid any misuse.

Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Ivana Dulic-Markovic said that the funds from the Japanese donation for fertiliser will be used for development of villages in flooded areas.

Dulic-Markovic said that along with the Serbian and provincial governments, the army and the gendarmerie, veterinary and civil services have made incredible efforts in the repair of the damage.

Information on the floods in Banat municipalities can be found on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management www.minpolj.sr.gov.yu.