On 12 December 2022, heavy rainfall in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) caused rivers overflow, leading to flooding of local infrastructure, facilities and more than 300 households at the north-west of the country.

By the following day, the water receded from most of the buildings and yards, but more precipitation, rain and snow were expected, risking further spillover from the river. Sanski Most, Bihać and Bosanska Krupa municipalities declared state of emergency due to natural disaster.

Scope and Scale

Affected people include those with specific vulnerabilities such as older people, persons with disabilities, children. Furthermore, the affected region is a central location in the migration response, including two Temporary Reception Centers for migrants - although, these have not been directly affected by the current floods. People in these areas are mostly living off agriculture, producing agricultural products which is negatively impacted by the consequences of this disaster (destroyed food stocks for winter, firewood, coal, etc.). Water is not drinkable in most of the affected area and many households are using their own water sources (pipes, well and etc.). There is a need to conduct Health promotion and disease prevention and control, especially related to water safety.

Below summarizes the impact of the disaster in affected areas:

1. In Sanski Most, the Bliha River overflowed its banks in several places, endangering citizens and their property. The concrete dam in the bed of the Bliha River was damaged, causing the streams of the Bliha and Zdena rivers coming together and flooding a large number of residential buildings in a short period of time. The water flooded communitie s along the courses of these two rivers (Zdena, Husimovci, Vrše, Donji Kamengrad, Hatiraj, Gornji Kamnegrad, Fajtovc i and Novo Naselje) and Stari Majdan from the Majdanuša River. By the evening, the town of Sanski Most itself wa s flooded. The overflowing of the Željeznica and Gračanica rivers flooded ten households. About 20 households and 30 auxiliary facilities are located in the most threatened area. Road connections in and around Sanski Most have been disrupted. The Mayor of Sanski Most declared a state of natural disaster.

2. In Bihać, the level of the Una River along the entire course were high and exceed critical levels. Local communities in the area reported flooding with around 90 residential buildings fully or partially damaged

3. In Bosanska Krupa, more than 10 households were affected in the flooded area

4. In Bosanska Otoka, a total of six houses, two residential buildings and one store were flooded.

5. In Bosanski Petrovac, the fire department had 20 interventions to pump out water from residential buildings. During the night, the most critical situation was in Donji Bišćani, Nukići and Bahići

6. In Gradika, heavy rainfall caused a sharp increase in torrential streams and rivers in Potkozarje villages, and flooding of residential buildings in the area of the city settlement Senjak. There was a sharp increase in water levels and spills of the small rivers Jablanica, Vrbaška and Labina and smaller torrential streams along these rivers. Water entered the courtyards of several households in the Villages of Donji Podgrdaci, Miloševo Brdo, Bistrica and Orahova. Water from the torrential stream in Bistrica poured into the main road Gradiška – Kozarska Dubica, causing a landslide.

7. In Kostajnica, a total of 10 households were flooded. The Una River spilled from the riverbed and torrential streams caused damage to the bridge in the village of Mrakodol. Damage was reported on several local and main routes. There is an active landslide in the village of Petrinja.

8. In Kozarska Dubica, the Binjačka River poured out in the city settlement Puhalo, where 10 households were flooded. Rivers Knežica and Mlječanica poured out in the village of Međuvođa, and two households were flooded. In the village of Draksenić, there was a breach of the circumferential canal on the small river Rakovica, and 20 households were flooded. Water level of the river Una was high and the main road between Kozarska Dubica and Kostajnica was flooded, so that the water spilled over the Neighbourhood Community Komlenac and the village Vrioci. About 30 households were affected, but no residential buildings were flooded.

9. In Novi Grad, heavy rainfall caused a landslide in which one person lost their life. A total of 200 facilities, including 40 residential buildings and 100 farmlands were flooded. One primary school was also flooded and classes in all schools were suspended. The traffic stopped on a large number of roads. A state of emergency has not been declared, but an emergency flood protection measure has been started

10. In Prijedor, more than 1,000 households including 80 residential buildings and 150 auxiliary facilities were flooded with large areas on which the waters spilled from heavy rainfall

To note, Bosnia and Herzegovina is made up of two entities, namely Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Inter-Entity Boundary Line, commonly abbreviated IEBL, is the administrative line that subdivides the two main parts of the country.

Following the reports of the World Bank, the poverty rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 16.9% and the flooded area is among the poorest in the country, therefore in need of basic needs support, especially during the winter.