Bosnia Authorities Under Fire over Flood Response

As hundreds of tons of relief collected in Bosnia and elsewhere reaches victims of the severe floods in Bosnia, the authorities have been criticized for failing to react on time.

In Bosnia’s Federation entity, many people said they had still not obtained either food or other aid. A report from the town of Maglaj, for example, showed a man seeking a package of donated food but being turned away.

Other reports said robberies had increased in the emergency and that traders had taken advantage of the situation. Some traders have reportedly upped prices massively or re-sold donated goods.

The governments of both of Bosnia's entities, the Federation and Republika Srpska, both ordered prices to be frozen at the level of May 14, which is the date when the crisis started. They have also said thieves and profiteers will be dealt with harshly.

The two governments have also organized civil protection forces that have worked hard to address the crisis.

“It is obvious there is the greatest possible solidarity of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Federation lawmaker Mirza Ustamujic said. “It is touching to see citizens of Republika Srpska thanking the citizens of the Federation for their help,” he added.

Initiatives started on Tuesday to organize a donor conference for Bosnia while the country's Presidency urged the European Union to provide financial assistance for solving the crisis stemming from the floods.

The Presidency also told the Council of Ministers, the state-level government, to coordinate the process of gathering relief material, seek international help and put all political and ethnic differences aside.

“Personally it seems to me that the spirit of the former Yugoslavia woke...