Bosnia and Herzegovina Floods 2014: Recovery Needs Assessment

In May 2014 heavy rains fell over Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) that caused extreme flooding of several rivers and landslides throughout the country. This flood was the most serious natural disaster experienced by BiH in the past 120 years and affected approximately a third of the country and the livelihoods of more than 2 million people in municipalities and cantons across the Federation, Republika Srpska and Brcko District.

Effects on the main sectors of the national economy (agriculture, industry and services) varied throughout the country; the private sector was heavily burdened, particularly micro and small enterprises that account for up to 92% of all Bosnian enterprises. As many companies have suffered prolonged business interruptions, there is a risk that a wave of unemployment claims may bring the country’s fragile social security system to collapse. Estimates from the RNA indicate a total economic impact of the floods of 3.98 billion KM.

Based on the 2008 UN, EU and WB tripartite agreement to jointly respond to crises at the request of governments, the three partners deployed in the aftermath of the floods a team of international experts to conduct a Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA).

The ILO led the Employment and Livelihoods (E&L) Sector Assessment with the support of WFP and the World Bank. Based upon the E&L Assessment it is estimated that 2.244 jobs have been lost in the immediate aftermath of the disaster leaving an additional 33.444 at risk.