Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello has announced €50,000 in funding to support flood relief in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Minister expressed solidarity on behalf of the Irish people with those affected by extreme flooding in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzgovina, Croatia and the region.

Minister Costello said: "We have been very concerned about the impact of the floods in Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia. Over 50 people are reported to have died and almost one million people have had to evacuate their homes in the worst flooding in more than a century.

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"The Government will provide €50,000 to World Vision Ireland to support their relief work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The funding will be used to provide psychological support and counselling services to children affected by the floods and to purchase vaccines to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases.

"We have also notified our humanitarian partners that we are ready to release essential relief items from the stocks we have pre-positioned in Brindisi, Italy, if they are required."

(CD/IT)