LocationsEU for Serbia Resilient to Disasters
EU Provides Serbia with 7 Cisterns for Fighting Large Fires
November 21, 2024
Pančevo, November 21, 2024 - To ensure that all regions of Serbia are adequately equipped to combat major fires while protecting lives, property and the environment, H.E. Emanuele Giaufret, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Serbia, and Yakup Beris, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in the Republic of Serbia, today handed over 7 firefighting cisterns to Ivica Dačić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia.
H.E. Emanuele Giaufret, emphasised that, thanks to EU support, Serbian firefighters and Civil Protection teams now have new equipment to better respond to crisis situations, protect lives, and preserve the environment.
“They are strengthening resilience in their own country and, as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, they are contributing to solidarity across Europe, as they did in October when they helped to put out the forest fires in Greece“, said Giaufret, adding: „I am extremely grateful for the commitment of all the brave men and women who are constantly going to dangerous places to save lives. Today, we are helping them to be even better prepared for their task - by providing them with the necessary equipment. This is a true European story of solidarity.“
The total value of the firefighting cisterns amounts to 1.4 million euros. They were allocated to the Emergency Management Sectors of the Ministry of the Interior of Serbia in Pančevo, Kragujevac, Valjevo, Užice, Jagodina, and Belgrade. Thanks to these cisterns, which can hold 7,000 liters of water and foam, fire and rescue units throughout Serbia will be able to control and extinguish large forest and open space fires more quickly and efficiently.
„Today's donation by the European Union in the form of seven cisterns for the needs of the Emergency Management Sector of the Ministry of the Interior will further improve the efficiency of interventions in emergency situations and in the rescue of citizens and their property. We thank the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia and the UNDP representatives for the excellent cooperation, which we will continue in the future“, stated Ivica Dačić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of Serbia, pointing out that this donation is part of the wider support of the European Union and UNDP to Serbia to improve disaster prevention and increase preparedness to respond to disasters.
To ensure that the citizens of Serbia are safer and better protected in the event of fires and other disasters, the EU has already provided 27 firefighting vehicles, 12 ambulance vehicles, 2 decontamination vehicles, and 3 vehicles for the Mountain Rescue Service worth 3.7 million euros over the last 4 years.
“Due to climate change, the average annual temperature in Serbia could rise by up to 5.8°C by the end of this century, which significantly increases the risk of fires. This is why we are helping to ensure that our brave firefighters are properly equipped to respond quickly and efficiently, save lives, reduce property damage, and contribute to environmental protection”, emphasised Yakup Beris, UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Serbia.
The handover of the firefighting cisterns was organised as part of the "EU for Serbia Resilient to Disasters" project, which is funded by the EU with 14.2 million euros and implemented by the UNDP. The aim of the project is to reduce Serbia's vulnerability to crises and disasters by supporting national and local institutions and organisations to strengthen preventive measures and increase preparedness. The Ministry of European Integration was involved in the programming and monitoring of the implementation of this project.
