Commissioner Georgieva: We sympathise with citizens and commend government’s swift reaction

(Hina) - European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday congratulated Croatia on having extended help to flood-hit neighbouring countries at the moment when it was fighting floods itself

(Hina) - European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday congratulated Croatia on having extended help to flood-hit neighbouring countries at the moment when it was fighting floods itself.

It shows what you are really like, demonstrating solidarity when it is necessary, Georgieva said in a message to the citizens and government of Croatia after talks with Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusić in Zagreb.

On Friday, Georgieva will tour the flood-hit areas of eastern Croatia. Before arriving in Croatia, she visited Orašje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Serbian town of Obrenovac, hit hardest by the recent floods.

The European Union has already sent assistance to the flood victims, including helicopters, water pumps and power generators, Georgieva said, underlining the importance of flood prevention measures.

One kuna invested in prevention means 4-7 kuna less damage in the long run, she said.

Pusić said that after the flood waters receded, Croatia would be faced with two more problems - land mines left over from the 1991-95 war that had been moved by the flood waters and a surge of possibly disease-transmitting mosquitos.

Croatian Public Health Agency head Tamara Poljičanin said the situation in Slavonia was definitely difficult in terms of mosquitos, but that a possible outbreak of infectious diseases such as ones caused by West Nile virus was not expected before summer and that health workers were doing their best to prevent such diseases from occurring.

Health Minister Rajko Ostojić on Wednesday declared a state of possible danger from an epidemic in the flooded areas. Poljičanin said this did not mean that there was an epidemic.

"There is no epidemic whatsoever in the area at the moment," she said.

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