The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrived today for a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. From Sarajevo airport, she headed directly to Donja Jablanica, which suffered significant damage, including loss of life, during the catastrophic floods that struck the area.

Von der Leyen visited Donja Jablanica to express solidarity with the communities affected by the recent devastating floods and landslides. During her visit, she spoke with rescuers who made superhuman efforts to assist the local residents after the floods and recover the bodies of those who perished in the landslides.

She also gave a heartfelt statement during her visit, saying:
“I am here 20 days after the disaster, and it is still heartbreaking to see this destruction, the devastation in this area. First and foremost, my thoughts are with the victims, the families, and friends they have left behind. What a horrible experience. I heard the disaster began in the middle of the night. People had no chance to escape the destruction. I want to say, Europe is with you. Europe stands by you. We are here not just in the short term, but also in the medium and long term, to help you above all. Of course, to help immediately. Secondly, to rebuild and restore after the catastrophe. I repeat, we will stand with you. You are friends and partners, and your country is a candidate for membership in the European Union. You have seen that the civil protection mechanism was activated immediately. I am glad to see volunteers, but also soldiers from different nations here with all their equipment, supporting and helping those in need. Thank you very much for hosting me today. It was very important for me to see with my own eyes what happened and how the floods have devastated this area. So, allow me to assure you, we stand by your side, and Europe is with you.”

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In Donja Jablanica, she was joined by the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Borjana Kristo, Prime Minister of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Marija Buhac, the Minister of Trade, Tourism, and Environmental Protection and Head of the International Operations Base of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Emil Balavac, and the mayors of Jablanica, Konjic, Kresevo, Fojnica, and Kiseljak, along with representatives of the rescue teams.

On Friday, October 25, meetings are planned with the Presidency of BiH and the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Kristo.