Bosnia Remembers Srebrenica Massacre

Sent by a reader

Bosnia marks 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, aka the Srebrenica genocide

About 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were massacred by Bosnian Serb forces, supported by the Serbian government of Slobodan Milošević and the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA), amid the breakup of Yugoslavia.

Thousands of Muslims seeking shelter in a UN refugee enclave in Srebrenica were shot dead by Serbian forces, after United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) failed to protect them.

The besieged enclave of Srebrenica in the Drina Valley, NE Bosnia, had been declared a “safe area” under UN protection in 1993, several months after war in Bosnia broke out. However, in July 1995, the ,UNPROFOR represented by hundreds of Dutch peacekeepers, failed to protect the Bosniak refugees and surrendered them to the Serbian forces in the “safe area.” [The commander of Dutch peacekeepers, Lieutenant-Colonel Thom Karremans, was filmed drinking a toast with General Mladić during the negotiations that decided the fate of the civilian population corralled in Potočari.]

In 2004, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague ruled that the massacre of Srebrenica male inhabitants constituted genocide. The ruling was upheld by the International Court of Justice in 2007. The forcible relocation of about 30,000 Bosnian women, children and elderly which accompanied the massacre further confirmed evidence of the genocidal intent of members of the the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) under the command of General Ratko Mladić, who orchestrated the massacre.

Russia vetoes U.N. resolution to condemn Srebrenica massacre as “crime of genocide”

Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution Wednesday failing to condemn the 1995 massacre of the Muslims at Srebrenica as a “crime of genocide,” AP reported.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador said Bosnian Serbs and Croats had also suffered during the 1992-95 war that killed at least 100,000 people. However, there’s NO evidence of any Serbs or Croats as being victims of a massacre.

Disasters, States of Emergency – May 23, 2014

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
HISTORIC FLOODING
DEADLY LANDSLIDES
MEGA DISASTER
MASS DISPLACEMENT
THREAT OF DISEASE EPIDEMICS
SCENARIOS 444, 333, 023, 09, 070
STATES OF EMERGENCY
.

Balkans faces risk of disease after flood disasters

Worst floods ever recorded in the Balkans, which triggered thousands of landslides, have devastated large swathes of Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia, destroying or damaging more than 100,000 homes, thousands of other buildings and much of the public infrastructure.

The disasters killed dozens of people across the Balkans; however, the death toll might rise because about 600 people are missing or unaccounted for in Serbia.

Tens of thousands of animals also perished in the disasters, creating a very serious health risk for populations in the devastated areas.

Rotting animal carcasses, food and waste in rising temperatures pose a serious risk of contaminating ground and surface waters.

Serbia’s government has made an appeal for disinfectants, quicklime, chlorine bleach and protection gear.

In Bosnia, there is the added danger posed by hundreds of thousands of landmines left over from the Bosnian War (1992-95) that may have been moved by the floodwaters and landslides from marked minefields.

Cost of Damage

Based on the latest damage data available, FIRE-EARTH Models estimate the total cost of damage caused by the historic flooding and landslides across the Balkans at more than $6 billion.

Related Links, Latest Historic Floods

• Balkan Storm Damage Tops $6 Billion: FIRE-EARTH May 21, 2014
• Mass Evacuations as Floods Submerge Towns in Croatia May 19, 2014
• ‘Terrifying’ Floods Affect 1,000,000 Bosnians May 19, 2014
• Balkan Historic Flood Disaster Update May 17, 2014
• Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia  May 15, 2014
• ‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

Other Disasters, States of Emergency

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, has declared a State of Emergency following widespread damage caused by flooding storms on May 12.

At least 736 homes have reported flood damage in Summit County, with nine of the homes suffering significant structural damage, according to the Falls Mayor.

Siberian Irkutsk region has declared a state of emergency after forest fires spread to local villages, prompting mass evacuations.

Some 77 forest fires have consumed more than 40,000 hectares of land in the region.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from the village of Dalny, where fires have destroyed two dozen homes, the the Emergency Situations Ministry said, Interfax reported.

Balkan Storm Damage Tops $6 Billion: FIRE-EARTH

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
HISTORIC FLOODING
DEADLY LANDSLIDES
MEGA DISASTER
MASS DISPLACEMENT
SCENARIOS 444, 023, 09, 070
STATES OF EMERGENCY
.

Deadly floods affect one million, displace 500,000, destroy or damage at least 100,000 homes

The worst floods ever to hit the Balkans have affected more than a million Bosnians and tens of thousands Serbians, killing dozens of people across he region, forcing more than half million out of their homes,  and destroying or damaging at least 100,000 homes, as well as hundreds of schools, hospitals and public infrastructure.

Extreme rain events triggered large-scale flooding, which in turn unleashed thousands of deadly landslides, destroying entire towns, villages and communities.

Tens of thousands of livestock perished across the flood-stricken region.

The storm also damaged coal mines and power stations as well as roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.

Cost of Damage

Based on the latest damage data available, FIRE-EARTH Models estimate the total cost of damage caused by the historic flooding at more than $6 billion across the Balkans.

Related Links, Latest Historic Floods

• Mass Evacuations as Floods Submerge Towns in Croatia May 19, 2014
• ‘Terrifying’ Floods Affect 1,000,000 Bosnians May 19, 2014
• Balkan Historic Flood Disaster Update May 17, 2014
• Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia  May 15, 2014
• ‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

‘Terrifying’ Floods Affect 1,000,000 Bosnians

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
HISTORIC FLOODING
DEADLY LANDSLIDES
MEGA DISASTER
MASS EVACUATIONS
SCENARIOS 444, 023, 09, 070
STATES OF EMERGENCY 
.

Deadly floods affect one million, displace 500,000, destroy or damage at least 100,000 homes in Bosnia

The worst floods ever to hit the Balkans have affected more than a million Bosnians, killing dozens of people, forcing more than half million out of their homes,  and destroying or damaging at least 100,000 homes.

Extreme rain events triggered deadly flooding and thousands of landslides, affecting about a third of the country, leaving more than a million people (quarter of the Bosnia’s population) without clean water.

The government has compared the “terrifying” destruction to the   1992-95 war, in which ethnic cleansing forced more than a million people out of their homes.

“We have some indications that a half a million Bosnians have either been evacuated or have left their homes because of flooding or landslides,” said a senior civil defense official in Bosnia.

Official Stats

• Deadly flooding and landslides have affected large swaths of the Balkans, including about 40% of Bosnia

• More than one million people have been affected in Bosnia, with no access to clean water.

• At least  500,00 people have been evacuated or abandoned their homes.

• Severe flooding and thousands of landslides have devastated vast regions in both Bosnia and Serbia, killing dozens of people, destroying more than  100,000 homes, as well as other buildings, schools, businesses and much of the public infrastructure.

• States of disaster have been declared for dozens of communities across Croatia as floodwaters submerge vast swaths of the country.

• At least 30,000 Serbians have been evacuated.

• Floodwaters threaten additional towns and key power plants in Bosnia and Serbia.

• Several towns in Serbia, including Krupanj in the Mačva District (population; 5,000) have been almost completely destroyed.

• Thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of livestock have perished across the flood-stricken regions.

“The consequences of the floods are terrifying. The physical destruction is not less than the destruction caused by the war. During the war, many people lost everything. Today, again they have nothing,” said Bosnia’s Foreign Minister.

Landmines

Meanwhile, Bosnia’s Center for the Removal of Landmines has renewed its warning concerning mines laid during the 1992-95. They fear that an estimated 750,000 mines could be dislodged by floods and landslides.

Related Links, Latest Historic Floods

• Mass Evacuations as Floods Submerge Towns in Croatia May 19, 2014
• Balkan Historic Flood Disaster Update  May 17, 2014
• Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia  May 15, 2014
• ‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

Mass Evacuations as Floods Submerge Towns in Croatia

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
DEADLY HAZARDS
HISTORIC FLOODING
MASS EVACUATIONS
SCENARIO 023
STATES OF EMERGENCY 
.

UPDATED at 13:00UTC

Flooding, landslides in Balkans kill dozens, destroy or damage thousands of homes, displace hundreds of thousands

• More than 500,00 people have been evacuated or abandoned their homes in Bosnia: Officials

• Thousands of landslides have devastated vast areas in both Bosnia and Serbia, destroying score of homes and killing dozens of people.

• States of disaster have been declared for dozens of communities across Croatia as floodwaters submerge vast swaths of the country.

• At least 30,000 Serbians have been evacuated.

• Floodwaters threaten additional towns and key power plants in Bosnia and Serbia.

• Thousands, possibly tens of thousands of livestock have perished in the flood-stricken regions.

River Sava topped previous record heights, bursting its banks in numerous places,  flooding several cities, dozens of towns and communities throughout central Croatia, and  forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

At least three people were reported dead or missing during mass evacuations, according to reports.

Serbia is facing its biggest natural disaster: Serbian PM

“The situation is catastrophic,” he said.

“While passing through Zabrezje, houses were just peeking from water… In some parts of the city there was total silence sometimes interrupted by barking of dogs looming on roofs,” Blic reported.

According to one rescuer in Obrenovac, bodies are floating in the water and the rescuers have trouble evacuating all the people who are still trapped in the city.

“The situation in Obrenovac remained very critical and rescuers had started uncovering dead bodies. I will not reveal the number until the water goes down,” Predrag Maric, head of police emergency sector said on Saturday. Floods are threatening to leave one third of Serbia without electricity. Forecasters expect the Sava River to rise in the coming days due to the rainfall upstream in Bosnia and Croatia.

Thousands of  Landslides

In Bosnia, the floodwaters were described as a 4 to 5 meter tsunami wave, destroying everything in its path.

Extreme rain events and flooding have triggered thousands of landslides, devastating homes, businesses, schools and infrastructure across vast areas.

Related Links, Latest Historic Floods

• Balkan Historic Flood Disaster Update May 17, 2014
• Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia  May 15, 2014
• ‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

 

Balkan Historic Flood Disaster Update

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
DEADLY HAZARDS
EXTREME RAIN EVENT
HISTORIC FLOODING
SCENARIO 023
STATES OF EMERGENCY 
.

Dozens killed, 85,000 Evacuated, Many Homes Destroyed, States of Emergency Declared in Bosnia, Serbia

The worst flooding ever recorded across the Balkans have submerged Serbia and Bosnia, killing at least two dozen people and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.

More than 300,000 households were without power across the two countries and Poland.

“This is a catastrophe. Nature has never been so cruel to us,” declared Serbian Energy Minister Aleksandar Antic. [Clearly, Mr Antic doesn’t read this blog. Editor]]

The government of Bosnia-Herzegovina declared a state of disaster on Thursday after extreme rain events caused rivers to burst their banks flooding a large number of infrastructure, housing facilities and agricultural areas.

Flooding also triggered numerous landslides in the mountainous regions, burying entire communities, destroying roads and bridges.

Floodwaters left many parts of Serbia isolated, accessible only by boat.

“This is the greatest flooding disaster ever. Not just in the past 100 years; this has never happened in Serbia’s history,” Serbia’s Prime Minister told reporters.

“More rain fell in one day than in four months,” he said.

Serbia declared a state of emergency across the country Thursday, and asked for international help, as rescuers continued to evacuate tens of thousands of people by boat, most of them from the rooftops.

Meanwhile, Bosnia’s Center for the Removal of Landmines warned that mines laid during the 1992-95 war could be dislodged by floods and landslides, Reuters reported.

Several towns in Serbia, including Krupanj in the Mačva District (population; 5,000) have been almost completely destroyed.

More than 800 landslides have occurred across the deluged region.

Cost of Damage

FIRE-EARTH Models estimate the total cost of damage caused by flooding and landslides in the Balkans at more than $2 billion, based on initial reports, as of posting. The estimate includes the cost of flood damage to Tamnava coal mines, in the Kolubara coal basin.

Links to Recent Historic Floods

• Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia  May 15, 2014
• ‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
DEADLY HAZARDS
EXTREME RAIN EVENT
HISTORIC FLOODING
SCENARIO 023
STATE OF EMERGENCY 
.

State of Emergency Declared in Serbia amid Deadly, Historic Flooding

“What we are facing is the biggest water catastrophe in Serbia’s history. This is the greatest flooding disaster ever. Not only in the past 100 years […] this has never happened in Serbia’s history […] more rain has fallen in one day than in four months,” said the Serbian Prime Minister.

Hundreds of people in the Balkans have been evacuated as rain-swollen rivers flooded roads, bridges and railways, cutting off power and phone service, and forcing schools to close, AP reported.

Floodwaters have submerged large swathes of land isolating numerous towns and villages and killing at least 6 people, according to local reports.

The Bosnian government is using the military to help thousands of civilians whose homes were inundated, especially in the central and eastern regions, Reuters reported.

“This is the worst rainfall in Bosnia since 1894, when weather measurements started to be recorded,” said a Bosnian meteorologist, forecasting the rain would continue until the end of the week.

Heavy flooding has been reported also in large parts of Romania, reports said.

Links to Recent Historic Floods

‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

 

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – October 5, 2013

Saudi black ops team carried out Damascus chemical weapons attack – Russian diplomatic source

The chemical attack in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria, on August 21 was carried out by a Saudi Arabian black ops team, according a Russian diplomatic source.

“Based on data from a number of sources a picture can be pieced together. The criminal provocation in Eastern Ghouta was done by a black op team that the Saudi’s sent through Jordan and which acted with support of the Liwa Al-Islam group,” a Russian diplomat reportedly told Interfax news agency.

The attack was meant to complicate an already delicate situation in Syria, another source said.

“Syrians of various political views, including some opposition fighters, are seeking to inform diplomats and members of international organizations working in Syria what they know about the crime and the forces which inspired it,” he told the agency.

“Earlier reports pointed to Saudi Arabia as the mastermind behind the chemical attack, which almost led to US military action against Syrian government. Supporters of this scenario say intelligence services in Riyadh were looking for a false flag operation to provoke an American intervention in Syria, which would tip the balance of power in favor of the armed opposition supported by Saudi Arabia,” said a report.

-oOo-

Lampedusa Migrants Boat Disaster: Death toll could reach 300

Choppy seas prevented divers on Friday from recovering more bodies of migrants who drowned  off Sicily on Thursday.

The Italian coastguard has so far recovered 111 bodies and expect to find at least 200 others. The boat sank  about 800 meters from the shore of the southern island of Lampedusa.

Some 155 people have been recused, but more than 200 others are not accounted for, authorities said.

The 20-m vessel is sitting upright on the seabed about 47m below the surface, video footage shows.

Since the 1990s, about 20,000 people have lost their lives trying to reach Italy from North Africa, according to data of known incidents; however, thousands more are likely to have perished without a trace.

-oOo-

Mandatory evacuation orders issued for low-lying areas south of New Orleans

State officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for low-lying areas south of New Orleans as a Tropical Storm KAREN continued to move toward the Louisiana coast.

KAREN has forced oil and gas companies to shut platforms and evacuate most of their workforces, cutting output by more than a half in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which accounts for about a fifth of U.S. oil production and more than 6 percent of natural gas.

Since Thursday, the governors of Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency to mobilize their resources.

-oOo-

Typhoon FITOW Buffeting SW Japan

Typhoon FITOW is dumping significant amounts of rain over the Okinawa region. Forecaster say  the region could receive downpours of 60 mm per hour through Sunday.

Expected rainfall totals through Sunday evening could top 200 mm on the Saki-shima Islands, and 150 mm on Okinawa’s main island, said NHK.

“The local observatory advises caution against strong winds, high waves, a storm surge, landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers, tornadoes, and gusting winds.”

-oOo-

Bodies Unearthed in Bosnian Mass Grave

About 100 bodies have so far been unearthed at a newly discovered mass grave in northern Bosnia-Herzegovina, reports say.

The victims are believed to be Bosnian Muslims and Croats who were ethnically cleansed by Serbian forces occupying the region during the three-year Bosnian War (1992 and 1995).

Serbian forces reportedly killed more than 30,000 civilians during their war of aggression.

In July 1995, Serbians massacred more than 8,000 Bosnians in Srebrenica, in what was the worst act of genocide in Europe since the Second World War.

-oOo-

Self-immolation at the National Mall

A man was in critical condition Friday night after he poured gasoline on his body and set himself on fire on the National Mall, reports said.

Photo credit: Terry Hays. More images…

Continued…