Weather

BELGRADE - The damage that Serbia has so far suffered during the severe flash floods exceeds 0.6 percent of the gross national income (GNI), which is a requirement for assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said at a meeting of international donors in Belgrade on Thursday.

BELGRADE - The Serbian government adopted a decree on Thursday to set up the office for help and recovery of the flooded areas and decided to set aside RSD 100 million for repair of the damage caused by the floods.

Grain producers in Bulgaria expect 15-20% less crops due to the recent heavy rainfalls which will also affect the prices of wheat and cereal.

Bread producers are worried that the rains will worsen the quality of wheat which will raise the production costs due to the need to use ingredient substitutions, NovaTv reports.

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic addressed a meeting of international donors in Belgrade on Thursday called to assess ways of helping Serbia deal with the floods that have affected 1,643,832 citizens in 39 municipalities.

Vucic said that 31,879 people had been evacuated from flood-affected areas and 140 shelters set up, including 47 in the capital, Belgrade.

Health authorities warn about possible outbreak of diseases

BELGRADE -- VMA Department of Preventive Medicine chief Sonja Radaković says "personal and collective hygiene" is key to suppress, prevent and control infectious diseases.

"Come on media and colleagues, let's show journalistic solidarity!" Vukasin Obradovic, head of the Serbian journalists association, NUNS, said, calling on media professionals to help colleagues in flood-hit areas.

BELGRADE - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is prepared to mobilise financial resources urgently in order to help Serbia's efforts towards recovery, considering the emergency situation that has been caused by the floods in the country, the EIB has told Tanjug.

Chakrabarti: EBRD will support Serbia

BELGRADE -- Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić met on Wednesday in Belgrade with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Suma Chakrabarti.

Situation stable, some flood evacuees to return home

BELGRADE -- The situation in the regions affected by the floods is stable this morning; some of the more than 30,000 evacuated residents expected to return to their homes.

All fear what they might find at home

Veliko Polje, Belo Polje and Sljivica are three villages near Obrenovac that the authorities are in fear the most as to what they might come upon there.

These villages were the first to be flooded by the Kolubara River and the water has still not withdrawn. Yesterday it was two meters high.