Delivery of humanitarian aid materials has started

During the past weekend, our teams were assisting in packing and in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the communities most affected by the floods, or those where many displaced people have found their shelter. 200 hygienic packs with a week supply of hygienic means for a family were distributed over the weekend to Zenica, Bijeljina, Tuzla and Banja Luka. 120 baby packs including diapers and baby wipes along with baby food were delivered to the same locations.Another 50 hygienic and 30 baby packs will be distributed to Doboj in the coming days. Our hard working colleagues from partner NGOs, alongside with volunteers distributed the delivered aid to the families in need. Save the Children’s staff was also on the spot to talk to the affected families and to children and to help with the distribution. Our colleague Ljiljana Sinickovic, education specialist says “Every day is Monday since the flooding started. I work around the clock, but I still got energy. I go here and visit these people who lost everything, and I feel like my job is making a difference. I feel bad going home to my clean sheets, knowing that there are so many still here, not owning anything.”

Preparation of hygiene kits for distribution to the families in need in Bosnia

Distribution of cleaning equipment and tools to schools in Zenica-Doboj Canton

Simultaneously, a contingency of cleaning equipment and tools was distributed to 28 schools in Zenica-Doboj Canton, which were highly affected by the floods. 16,950 girls and boys are educated in these schools on a regular basis. Their education is currently interrupted and it is most likely that they will not be able to return to school in this school year, as the efforts to clean-up and dehumidify the school premises continue. By providing the clean-up and disinfection equipment and means, in Save the Children we hope to speed up the process of recovery, while at the same time we explore new funding opportunities which would enable us to provide school furniture and equipment, so that the 16,950 girls and boys can go back to school in September. What going back to school would mean to the children affected by this natural disaster is best reflected in a quote of Saudina , a 16-year old girl placed in the military camp shelter, whose house was destroyed by a landslide: “I like to attend the activities for children [organized by Save the Children in the camp], because it feels good to have something to do. I would be bored to death if not! It would be even better if the school would start again. That’s all I hope for: To go home and continue with my life.”

Saudina (16) who lost her house to a landslide at a military camp shelter in Zenica/ PHOTO: Hanne Bjugstad