Mr. Darko Tot participated at the International Donors conference in Brussels, which was held in Brussels on 16th of July. He pointed out that there are many organisations involved in helping after the floods, but only a few of them were called to the International donors conference:

»Caritas was one of the organisations called and that should be seen as a confirmations of all that Caritas is doing since the floods started in May. That was in a certain way a confirmation of what we were doing, but also an incentive to continue working, because if the media are talking less about the floods it doesn’t mean this population doesn’t need help anymore. People are still without houses and house appliances. In the first days it was easier to express solidarity, but it’s still necessary to help and solidarity is still needed« – were the words of the coordinator of Caritas Serbia.

Caritas Emergency board

In order to analyse the situation, assess the needs, coordinate immediate relief activities and decide on activities/programming local Caritas Emergency Board responsible for governing the Caritas response was established. The Board is headed by Mons. Stanislav Hocevar, Belgrade Archbishop and Caritas president and further composed of Mr. Miloje Veljic, Diocesan Caritas Belgrade Director, Mr. Darko Tot, National Caritas coordinator and Dr Daniel Galun, the project officer.

Caritas Emergency Relief Project was established in these targeted municipalities of Western Serbia: Krupanj, Ub, Valjevo, Osecina, Lajkovac, Mionica, Sabac and Obrenovac. During the course of the Project additional municipalities of Central and Southern Serbia were included in the emergency relief activities – Lazarevac, Svilajnac, Jagodina, Paracin, Topola, Smederevska Palanka and Despotovac.

First days of the floods in Šabac municipality

In the most critical days (May 16-19) parish Caritas in Sabac had organized a network of about 50 volunteers who have prepared sandwiches and drinks (water, coffee, tea) to evacuees and to embankment reinforcing volunteers in Sabac. Total number of meals delivered by Caritas Sabac was 10.310. This action was financed by Caritas Austria and Slovenia and by the local government. In addition family packs with food/hygiene items in the amount of EUR 5.000,00 have been distributed for people evacuated from flooded villages in Sabac municipality.

First days of the floods in Valjevo region

In the first 72h parish Caritas in Valjevo provided bottled water and canned food to the families in the biggest needs in small villages that were cut-off from the main roads and communications, in the amount of 5.000,00 EUR, financed by Caritas Austria and Slovenia. This aid was distributed by boats, army vehicles and jeeps.

First days of the floods in Belgrade

With the financial assistance of Caritas Austria and Slovenia in the first days hygiene material (baby dippers and cosmetics, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soaps, etc.) in the amount of 7.000,00 EUR has been provided for the families in the biggest needsm evacuated from Obrenovac and temporarily placed in shelters managed by the Social Welfare Center Belgrade.