[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 83 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E883-E884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS CONDOLENCES AND SUPPORT FOR 
   ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF THE HISTORIC FLOODING IN THE WESTERN 
                                BALKANS

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 30, 2014

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution to express condolences and support for assistance to the 
victims of the historic flooding in the Western Balkans, which began on 
May 13, 2014. The record rainfall caused widespread flooding in Bosnia 
and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia, 
leading to thousands of landslides, massive destruction, and loss of 
life.
  To date, the flooding has claimed over 40 lives and impacted over 
500,000 people across the region, particularly in western Serbia and 
eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The equivalent of three months of rain 
fell during the course of three days, making this the worst flooding 
event seen in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina since recordkeeping 
began 120 years ago. Tens of thousands across the region remain 
displaced or homeless and, according to the Red Cross, many lack access 
to clean water and electricity.
  The Bosnian Foreign Ministry has reported that the flooding has 
rendered 100,000 buildings unusable, and that 500,000 people have 
evacuated or fled their homes amidst the ongoing state of emergency.
  On May 27, 2014, the Government of Serbia declared three days of 
national mourning, having described the situation in the country as 
``catastrophic.'' It estimates that at least 25,000 people have 
evacuated, particularly in the town and municipality of Obrenovac, and 
that the flooding has caused over 100,000,000 Euros ($140,000,000) in 
damage to the Kolubara coal mine that supplies the Kostolac power 
plant. Efforts continue to protect the

[[Page E884]]

Kostolac power plant and the Nikola Tesla power plant, which provides 
half of the nation's electricity, from the waters of the over-flooded 
Sava River.
  Furthermore, an estimated 100,000 landmines remaining from the Balkan 
conflicts of the 1990s have been lost or dislodged due to landslides, 
causing great concern for public safety.
  In response, the United States Government has provided assistance 
through the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to the 
Serbian Red Cross, as well as from the Under Secretary of State for 
Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Additionally, U.S. Embassy funds 
have been used to purchase sandbags and other material assistance, with 
Embassy volunteers dedicating their time to filling hundreds of 
sandbags in suburbs threatened by Sava River flooding. The United 
States Government has further provided OFDA assistance to Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, as well as boats, food, and supplies through the U.S. 
Agency for International Development (USAID) and Department of Defense.
  Mr. Speaker, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the 
Republic of Serbia share an increasing commitment to core democratic 
values, reconciliation, and European integration. The United States 
expresses deep sympathy to all those affected by the flooding in the 
Western Balkans for the terrible loss of life and massive destruction, 
as well as a continued desire to provide essential assistance along 
with that of other nations and organizations to help their countries 
recover from this tragedy.

                          ____________________