UNDP: USD 1.5 million to be provided for flood relief

UNDP: USD 1.5 million to be provided for flood relief

The agreement was signed at the Serbian government on Monday by Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Kori Udovički, Director of the Government Office for Reconstruction and Flood Relief Marko Blagojević, and UNDP Resident Representative Irena Vojackova-Sollorano.

Udovički specified that around USD 1 million are required to clear the sites planned for the construction of new buildings, while around USD 500,000 are provided for the technical and expert assistance, as well as for recommendations on the changes to regulatory framework.

The site clearance activities will be carried out by the local population who will in that way secure additional income, she added.

"After the project is completed, we will be able to upgrade the system and ensure better protection against natural disasters,” Udovički told reporters upon signing the agreement.

Vojackova-Sollorano pointed out that UNDP will help to set up a system of disaster risk reduction. UNDP has provided support to the Serbian government from the first day after the floods, and now we want to demonstrate our readiness to continue with this practice, she said.

Blagojević said that UNDP assistance is coming at the right moment, when the construction of residential facilities is about to begin, and specified that the funds will be used for the clearing of future building sites.

The works are running one and a half months behind schedule, as no relevant system and legal framework were in place when Serbia was hit by the floods, Blagojević pointed out, stressing that for that reason efforts are being directed towards creating a sustainable system that will enable a prompt and timely response to natural disasters in the future.