The hydrographic system in Kosovo is divided into four river basins: Drini i Bardhë (White Drin), Ibër (including Sitnica), Morava e Binçës and Lepenc. Approximately 491 km of rivers are at risk of flooding. The risk of floods and related economic damage has been exacerbated by anthropogenic factors, including insufficient maintenance of drainage canals and flood plains, poor condition of embankments, illegal waste dumping, unauthorised gravel extraction, and damaged flood protection infrastructure (embankments, dams, walls, etc.) There is an urgent need for intervention with rehabilitation measures in many areas and the construction of new infrastructure.
The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, completed with WBIF and GIZ support, has analysed 834 cadastral zones with a total area of 7,056 km². At flood risk are 123 km², 341,244 inhabitants and 57,784 households, 32 cultural and historical sites, 57 protected areas and hot spots and 538 economically important areas. The studies have identified 398 areas of potential significant flood risk, out of which 108 are at extreme risk, 95 are at very high risk, and 195 are at high risk.
Continuing this work, WBIF allocated another TA grant in June 2021 for the development of Flood Risk Maps and Flood Hazard Maps to provide more detailed information on zones with low, medium and high flood risk, and within this, more information on flooded areas, water levels, flooding velocity or the relevant flow as appropriate.
Furthermore, flood risk maps will show the negative consequences the floods may cause by assessing: (i) the number of potentially vulnerable residents from flooding; (ii) the type of economic activity potentially at risk from flooding; (iii) industrial installations which can cause accidental pollution during floods and protected areas that may be at risk from floods; and (iv) any other information which may be considered useful, such as the locations of areas where flooding may deposit large amounts of sediment, and information on other sources of pollution.
The development of Flood Risk Maps and Flood Hazard Maps is a prerequisite for moving forward with the investments. These studies, coupled with the Flood Risk Management Plan to be subsequently developed, will fully define the infrastructure investments needed for the reduction of harmful impacts and consequences of flooding to human health, environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
