More countries send assistance to flood-hit Serbia

BELGRADE - Eight EU member countries sent assistance on Friday to Serbia which has been hit by severe floods, as well as Russia, the U.S., Israel, Croatia and Macedonia, while the Serbian diaspora launched aid actions.

The EU has activated the Mechanisms for Civil Protection upon receiving the request which Serbia filed later on Thursday because of the floods in a great part of the country, and France, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic and Croatia were among the first to send assistance.

The EU Information Centre in Serbia noted that other EU members are preparing to send assistance as well.

France immediately sent a rescue mission to Serbia, the French Embassy in Belgrade released on Friday.

Three Slovenian civil protection teams arrived in Serbia equipped with high-capacity drainage pumps.

The Slovenian government sent an additional special civil protection unit to Serbia, together with 19 experts, special military helicopter and necessary equipment, Slovenian Ambassador in Belgrade Franc But told Tanjug.

Bulgaria sent two fire-fighting vehicles with 10 high-capacity drainage motor pumps, as well as several vehicles and boats with 16 high-capacity pumps, and two rescue motor boats were also placed at Serbia's disposal.

Serbia will also receive assistance from Germany, comprising 15 rescuers and three high-power drainage pumps, five trucks and a 50kW aggregate.

The EU Delegation in Serbia noted that Austria will send a civil protection rescue team in the course of the weekend with high-capacity drainage pumps, and the information about the delivery of boats and helicopters is awaiting confirmation as well.

Hungary granted five boats and...