August 15, 2023 News

2nd situation report after floods in Slovenia

Caritas Slovenia organizes the work and help of volunteers in areas affected by floods. With the help of members of the Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis networks, 1,546,631 euros have been collected so far for rescue work. Assistance to local residents continues.

There are some incredible stories, how some people survived in these floods; it was for few seconds and they would die, but they were rescued last second … A big protection from God, like a miracle. 5 people lost their lives, all others survived.

After visiting the affected areas with floods in Slovenia, Caritas staff estimates that more than 4,000 households have been seriously affected by the floods. At least 121 houses are completely destroyed, 2,733 are severely damaged, and the rest have flooded basements and destroyed infrastructure. Now is the period of cleaning the mud, sand from houses and start with the drying the houses. People now really see how much damage they had on their houses, and now start the hard period for them, a lot of trauma for many … There are for example some young families which they just build their house, but the lost everything. Many of them still don’t know if they could live in their house in future, or it will be necessary to demolish it. This is a big stress for them, to live in such uncertainty.

Slovenians are showing remarkable solidarity in the face of the devastating of the floods. The response to the plight of the people affected by the floods has been the response of many Slovenians, Slovenian companies, foundations as well the members of Caritas Europa and Intrenationalis network, whether in financial or/and material aid or with expressing the compassion with all affected. By now Caritas Slovenia collected in a total of €1,546,631 for the relief effort.

Help is reaching people in the affected areas through Caritas volunteers and staff. So far, EUR 300,000 has been sent to the field for emergency aid and vouchers for households for emergency supplies. We will continue with the distribution of funds in the coming days.

Caritas Slovenia is organising the work and deployment of volunteers in the affected areas in the Slovenian Caritas Coordination Centre of Caritas Slovenia, which is coordinated by youngCaritas. The volunteers are mainly responsible for food transport, cleaning of the houses... Between 900 and 1,000 volunteers from parish and diocesan Caritases, as well from youngCaritas are now involved in volunteer work every day, like to help with cleaning the mud from the houses or deliver the food and hygienic packages. Through youngCaritas a database of 1.840 new volunteers was created for the purposes of affected people in the floods. Despite the pain, the gratitude of affected people who receive the aid from Caritas volunteers and material assistance is immeasurable. On Monday, 14th August, in Slovenia is a solidarity day which is organised by the state. Most of the people is free of work that every Slovenian have opportunity to go to help someone who was affected by floods.

The solidarity from Caritas Europa member organisations is big. Caritas Slovenia is thankful for all concrete support and the messages of solidarity and compassion, prayers, which comes even from Caritases out of Europe, like Caritas South Sudan and Rwanda.

In this week and next week, Slovenian Caritas has/will also receive 220 construction dryers as donations or on loan from Caritas sister organisations:  Caritas Austria (20), Caritas Croatia (25), Caritas Poland (25), Caritas Germany (49 and some other machines for now) and the Caritas Czech Republic (in total up to 100). Also Caritas Italiana and Caritas Bosnia and Hercegovina offered us support with dryers and CRS from Sarajevo a technical support. Caritas Slovenia has purchased also additional 22 dryers. More than 100 dryers are already in use on the ground. People need them now a lot, as many houses were already cleaned from mud.

Some of CE member organisation is also raising the funds, like Caritas Poland, Caritas Austria, Bosnia and Hercegovina, and Czech Republic.

Caritas Austria already donated us 10.000 € for the construction dryers, Caritas Germany pledged 50.000 € for vouchers for families and construction dryers. All the project will be implemented on bilaterally basis. Caritas Germany is willing to offer to Caritas Slovenia also the training on sharing the experiences from Germany from the response on the floods in 2021. On the basis of the shared experience of Caritas Germany, Caritas Slovenia already include in its work one construction expert to share the advices with affected people, how to rebuild the houses. All sharing experiences from the network is of great value for Caritas Slovenia.

On Monday, 14th August a humanitarian aid delivery from Caritas Poland will arrive by military plane from Warsaw. There will be 33 pallets of goods on the plain: dryers, tools and means for cleaning, food, hygienic materials etc. On board of the plane will arrive to Slovenia also Caritas Poland staff. We are grateful for this huge solidarity.

"Material aid is the most needed at the moment, but people also need conversation, psychosocial support and spirituality. At Caritas Slovenia we already have the possibility of an online conversation for people who are in need, with a relieving conversation with a confidant. This is a place where you can express yourself, share your feelings and receive support in a safe environment. The conversation takes place remotely. You can register on the portal: https://www.karitas.si/esos/#video-svetovanje . Anyone who feels the need to talk is welcome. During these days we had among the volunteers of Caritas teachers, who took a lay approach to talking to individuals, which was highly resonant and well received by the individuals and families affected.” Said Peter Tomazic, secretary general of Caritas Slovenia. Caritas Slovenia is thinking also about to establish a psychosocial teams with experts to go to the field and talk with effected people, what was advice of Caritas Italiana.

There are following 3 statements from diocesan Caritas directors, from the areas which was the most affected

Darko Bracun, director of diocesan Caritas Maribor: "We can see that our colleagues and volunteers immediately stepped up to help alongside firefighters, police, army, civil protection and other humanitarian organisations. After meeting people, I notice that distress is coming after people, they have begun to realise what they have been through and experienced. Many are left speechless by their experiences. The initial task of the Caritas volunteers is to clean the mud. Volunteers get there, clean up and return home. But people are there and they stay there and they have to live it. My message is that if you know someone, call them, if not the other person will see that someone is with them."

Jože Kern, director of diocesan Caritas Ljubljana: "I would like to thank the Caritas volunteers for their work and efforts for the affected people, even though many Caritas volunteers in these areas were themselves flooded and had their property destroyed. Parish Caritas are already distributing applications for the first financial assistance.."

Matej Pirnat, director of diocesan Caritas Celje: "We are sending volunteers on a daily basis to areas where clean-up is needed. Volunteers report that people are happy that they are not alone, that someone comes to them, they do some physical work, they take some tiredness away. People are tired, people are staying there in the flooded areas. Volunteers just bring the message that people are not alone. But above all, they talk to people, they help them to put into words the trauma, to put into words the terrible feelings, the fears that they have experienced in these floods. That is also why we would like to express our sincere thanks to all those who are coming from all over Slovenia to help us help people. Karitas tries to be close to the people affected and to help them as much as we can. To all of you who have helped in any way so that we can be close to the people, who have taken immediate action and helped, we thank you sincerely for your trust, for your open heart and please continue to stand by us."