New York, NY, May 30, 2014 – In response to the devastating floods in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), together with the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (Fedrom), dispatched 5 aid convoys carrying 15 tons of aid for victims of the devastating floods in Serbia and Bosnia last week. Packed and prepared by the Jewish communities of Bucharest and Timisoara, the convoys carried supplies – including food, personal hygiene products, water, milk, powdered milk, diapers, liquid soap, bedding and replacement furniture – for flood victims in Belgrade, Doboj and Banja Luka. Additionally, JDC worked with its local partners as part of its Women’s Health Empowerment Program (WHEP) in Bosnia to reach Roma victims in remote locations.

The aid is being distributed among the most needy victims including individual Jewish families in Jewish communities in Doboj and Banja Luka.

There are some 3,000 Jews living in Serbia today where JDC provides services to the Jews in need including food, clothing, home visits and medical care. It also helps cultivate Jewish life by supporting Jewish leadership gatherings and education in Serbia and throughout the Balkans. Additionally, JDC engages in similar social service and Jewish community development work with Bosnia & Herzegovina’s 1,100 Jews, mostly located in Sarajevo.