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SARAJEVO, February 16 (FENA) - The UNDP Resident Representative in BiH Steliana Nedera emphasized that several projects aimed at reducing flood risk have been implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), aware of the catastrophic effects of the 2014 floods and other natural disasters caused by climate change.
"Unfortunately, flooding continues to be a threat to about one million citizens across Bosnia and Herzegovina. To continue addressing this problem, UNDP, in cooperation with BiH authorities and institutions, is preparing a new project aimed at reducing the risk of flooding in the Una, Sana, Vrbas, Bosnia, Ukrina, Neretva and Trebišnjica river basins," said Nedera.
As part of the project 'Integrating Climate Change into Flood Risk Reduction in the Vrbas River Basin', UNDP has previously assisted in the implementation of a Protocol to inform institutions of the possibility of floods occurring in the Vrbas, Una and Sana Rivers.
The UNDP also supported local authorities in setting up an early warning system as an important tool for managing flood risk aimed at responding promptly to an upcoming flood event.
It is a technically advanced system that will forecast water levels and blue lines several days in advance. This ultimately means reducing economic losses and damage to more than 200,000 residents affected by the flood in the Vrbas River Basin.
The flood early warning system developed for the Vrbas Basin has now been linked to the Una and Sana warning systems. Together, this forms the basis for further expansion of flood warning systems for other river basins in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Vrbas River Basin Early Warning System, developed as part of the UNDP project, will contribute to reducing flood risk, better preparation and timely response to floods for more than 200,000 inhabitants of the Vrbas Basin.
For the development of this system, the Global Fund for the Environment has allocated (through UNDP) about 400,000 KM and the entity water management agencies have secured 200,000 KM.
The UNDP calls on the responsibility of all institutions in the process of flood forecasts and stresses that the early warning system may fail if all responsible institutions do not coordinate activities and do not respond on time.
"Clear protocols and regulations improve the success of warning communications and the dissemination of flood risk information. Only with constant improvements and upgrades, will the Flood Warning System have a full effect," underlined Nedera.
(FENA) S. R.
