UNDP SEESAC donates IT equipment to the Commission for eartquake damage assessment in the Municipality of Kraljevo

United Nations Development Programme/SEESAC represented by Mr. William Infante, United Nations Resident Coordinator, donated IT equpment to the Kraljevo Commission for earthquake damage assessment. The donation will improve the capacity of the Commission and significantly accelerate the process of assessment on 16,000 damaged vertical structures. The equipment will be used for regular entry of data pertaining to damage reports while a separate dabatase is being established to store all data and information on donations and assistance received by the municipality.

“The improved IT capacity of the Commission will speed up data-processing and help establish reconstruction priorities in more efficient manner but it will also help identiy sources of weakness that contributed to the damage“ said Mr. Infante adding that “with all challenges and new experience, Kraljevo has an opportunity to become center for disaster management as Kobe in Japan became after earthquake and UNDP will support Kraljevo in that process“.

As of January 17, 2011, the Comission has completed 10,863 records (consisting of questionnaire, photos, damage estimates and experts’ conclusions). The current result of the assessment indicated that 601 buildings should have been demolished and 558 buildings have 70% (5th degree) damages, while 683 builgins have 50% (4th degree) damages. The exact number of houses that need to be either demolished or reparied will be known after the completion of all records.

“Activities in the municipality are getting back to normal and most employees who were actively involved in various emergency response activities returned to their regular jobs. Therefore, we have decided to establish a new department - “Department for reparation of earthquake consequences” to manage recovery process. At the end of the process, we are planning to gather all information, procedures, recommendations and our experience in an official document which will be available to all cities in Serbia in a case they face similar disaster” said Kraljevo mayor Ljubisa Simovic.

UN is comitted to promoting urban resilience and has a long standing comittment to build disaster response capacities of national and local instutions while closely coordinating with the EU Delegation on accessing emergency assistance.

The value of donated equipment amounts to 152,200 CSD.

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About the UN assistance to Kraljevo:

Following a request by the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN is facilitating coordination of the international response. The donation is delivered as a part of an emergency assistance provided by the family of UN agencies in Serbia. For example, UNHCR was the first humanitarian agency to respond to a request for assistance to earthquake victims, providing immediate assistance to the citizens of Kraljevo. The day after the earthquake, UNHCR sent tents, plastic sheeting, tarpaulins and other necessary assistance to help with the immediate (shelter) needs.   

A United Nations Assistance to Kraljevo webpage has been established on UN Country Team official site http://www.un.org.rs  to provide an easy access to all UN Situation Reports and other relevant information regarding the Kraljevo earthquake. The site includes a summary of delivered and pledged public and private support, and the assistance provided by external partners.

 

About UNDP:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, and in Serbia since 1952, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As countries develop local capacity they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

UNDP continues to support Serbia in its own efforts to achieve the highest level of human prosperity and dignity for all its citizens irrespective of their gender, ethnicity or creed. UNDP promotes sustainable human development, human security and equal possibilities for all, while providing every available support to Serbia in its progress toward joining the European Union.  http://www.undp.org.rs/.