EU chief pledges 20 million euros for flood-hit Bosnia

Sarajevo: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Friday pledged 20 million euros in immediate aid for Bosnia after deadly and devastating floods. Earlier...

Sarajevo: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Friday pledged 20 million euros in immediate aid for Bosnia after deadly and devastating floods.

Earlier this month, 27 people died in floods and landslides that washed away roads, railway tracks and bridges, cutting off many populated areas in central and southern Bosnia.

Most of the victims were from the village of Donja Jablanica, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) southwest of Sarajevo.

Von der Leyen visited the village on Thursday during her tour of six Balkan nations.

"At the moment right now you need immediate help ... therefore we decided to mobilise 20 million euros ($21.6 million) for immediate help right now and the in the second step the (EU) solidarity fund will support you," she told reporters in Sarajevo.