Five south-central Serbian municipalities have been severely affected by acute water shortages, due to this past month’s drought and insufficient water reservoir capacity in this part of the country. Over 250,000 inhabitants from Lucane, Požega, Gornji Milanovac, Cacak and Arilje have been directly affected. Water restrictions have been imposed following the Government of Serbia’s decision to declare a state of natural disaster. USAID’s Preparedness, Planning and Economic Security program has responded with immediate assistance by providing five water tanks to the most affected municipality of Arilje.
USAID’s Preparedness, Planning and Economic Security program is providing three (2,000 liter capacity) water tanks and two (3,000 liter capacity) water tanks, which have been delivered to the local kindergarten (400 children), primary school (1,600 students), high-school (500 students) and a health center, providing clean water to 2,500 students and all those in the care of the health center. The donation is complimentary to the Serbian Government’s assistance of transporting water in that it allows for adequate on-site storage of water in places (schools and health center), where large numbers of people congregate. As a result of this assistance, the municipality of Arilje has not delayed the start of the school year due to the lack of drinking water.
USAID’s Preparedness, Planning and Economic Security program helps municipalities be more resilient to crises and disasters, such as floods, wildfires, landslides and chemical accidents, assists businesses in difficult environments grow and works with Serbia’s youth to empower them for the future. The municipality of Arilje is among one of 42 municipalities where the program is currently engaged. Young people are an integral part of the program’s strategy, which aims to promote youth entrepreneurship and improve business skills of young people in Serbia, encouraging them to increase their participation in the formal economy of the country.
Michael Pillsbury, USAID’s Preparedness, Planning and Economic Security program director, will present U.S. assistance to the Municipality of Arilje to Dr. Mirjana Avakumovic, Mayor of Arilje, on September 10.
Journalists interested in covering this event are kindly asked to be at the Municipal building, Svetog Ahilija 53, Arilje by 12:45 PM.
For more information about this event please contact Jasmina Debeljak Maljkovic, Public relations/Media Specialist,
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, at 063-209 469, or Slobodan Perovic, Municipal Intervention Specialist,
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, at 063-377199. For more information about USAID’s activities in Serbia, please visit http://serbia.usaid.gov