Date post: | 24-Dec-2014 |
Category: |
Technology |
Upload: | bezrabotni |
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PEOPLE VS.FLOODSSREĆKO ŠEKELJIĆ
SERBIA CAUGHT UNPREPARED
SERBIA CAUGHT UNPREPARED• Decades of chaotic urban planning and poor
infrastructure
• In 2012 and 2013 government cuts the budget needed for flood-protection, despite urges from experts
• The government and many public institutions didn’t take the natural disaster seriously enough
• Weak response to the disaster created a catastrophe
• People haven’t been evacuated even when the institutions in charge issued warnings
• The state of emergency was declared when it was too late
• Death toll, and number of missing persons unknown
“NEVER WASTE A CRISIS”
“NEVER WASTE A CRISIS”• Prime Minister Vučić at live government sessions asserts
his “iron hand” authority
• Responsibility for the catastrophe pinned to local politicians
• Crisis used for imposing pressure on mayors who aren’t in line with the governing political party
• Covering up the extent of the catastrophe
• Imposing a firmer grip over the media
• Government ministers using the opportunity to promote themselves
PEOPLE RESPOND
PEOPLE’S RESPONSE• Thousands of volunteers sign-up for building temporary
embankments
• Skilled professionals self-organize to save people in flooded areas before the police and military came there
• Radio-amateurs provide information on locations of people caught by the floods
• Free transportation and shelter provided to the people in need
• Tons of food and clothing donated to the evacuated people
PEOPLE’S RESPONSE
Creating web platforms for:
• mapping the floods
• reporting the location of people in need of help
• reporting missing persons
• Coordinating volunteers and donations
Fundraising in Serbia and abroad
Using blogs and social media to tell testimonies on what’s the real situation on the ground and finding missing persons
POPLAVE.RS
A volunteer project started by a handful of people
In just one week:
• 100 volunteers
• 1,000,000 unique visitors
• 5,000,000 views
• Over 500 missing persons reported
• Comprehensive list and location of evacuated persons – over 5,000
• Volunteers’ coordination
• Info for evacuation of people and animals
THANK YOU!