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Where are we 10 years after the 2014 floods?
Disasters and their associated economic shocks pose a significant threat to human life and personal wellbeing, particularly for the poorest nations and the most vulnerable people in all countries. The costs have always been significant, but disasters are increasingly much more costly. The countries and territories of the Western Balkans region have repeatedly experienced devastating disasters in the past, resulting in economic and human losses across the region.
Floods represent one of the most prominent risks in Serbia and the Western Balkans region. In May 2014, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced unprecedented rainfall that led to the most severe flooding in 120 years.
This disastrous event affected over 1.6 million people in 38 municipalities in central and western Serbia. The floods and landslides caused a total damage of 1.7 billion euros, which corresponds to more than 4% of the country's GDP. The most adversely affected sector was mining and energy, accounting for 32% of the total damage, followed by housing, agriculture, and trade, accounting for 15% of the total damage each.
The 2014. floods were a major trigger for the advancement of the disaster management system of the Republic of Serbia, followed by major investments in disaster preparedness and overall resilience to natural disasters at the national and local level.
To mark the 10th anniversary, with the support of the EU and UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, UNDP Serbia is organising a two-day Conference, “Ten Years After 2014 Floods”, which will take place on 22 and 23 October 2024.
The aim of the conference is to assess resilience in the Balkan region. Government representatives, development and international partners, and risk finance regulators in the Western Balkans will discuss challenges and explore opportunities to increase resilience through initiatives to reduce disaster risk and respond to climate change.