Flood in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia: Data collection update 20. 5. 2014

Published by Valicon on

The first news regarding possible data-collection activities: National-representative surveys are stopped in all three countries till the end of May. At VALICON, we are constantly monitoring the mood of respondents when the surveys can be conducted again. We are also preparing an alternative methodology and sampling plan for those that urgently need fieldwork.There will be a weekly update available on VALICON’s web site.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), Serbia, and a part of Croatia are facing catastrophic floods and landslides. A significant portion of the territory is under water with thousands of people evacuated. At the moment, people are preparing for a new wave of floods from rising rivers. People that are not directly affected by floods and landslides are helping others in building sandbag flood defense and with other humanitarian activities. Telecommunications infrastructure was also severely hit in those areas.

Generally speaking, there are two elements affecting data-collection process: physical inability (personal involvement in flood-resolving activities and telecommunications infrastructure conditions) and the mood of  the respondents.

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Data-collection in those countries

Due to natural disasters in all three countries: Croatia, B&H and Serbia, all data-collection project are stopped till the end of May. There are regions where normal field-work can be done, but because of the mood of the respondents, we advise our clients to wait util the situation is “back to normal”.

According to mode of research.

  • Qualitative research i.e. focus-groups will be the first that will be possible at the beginning of June:
    • in Serbia all “typical” locations Belgrade, Novi Sad (representative for Vojvodina) and Niš (representative for Southern Serbia);
    •  in B&H in Sarajevo and Mostar (representative for Herzegovina)
    • in Croatia all locations, except Osijek (representative for Slavonija).
  • Web surveys (CAWI) will be the first that will start functioning because they can be answered when the respondent finds it suitable. First test will be run at the end of the next week.
    • Due to the situation with telecommunications infrastructure, alternative sampling plan will be applied  for CATI and CAPI with the combination of mixed-mode CAPI and CAWI.

In order to provide our clients with best service possible and to minimize potential influences of these situation to our clients’ daily business, at Valicon we are preparing an alternative methodology / sampling plan for those that urgently need data-collection.

If you need additional information please contact Valicon’s Head of data collection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dženis Midžić ([email protected]) or your local Valicon representative.

Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • There is an estimation (though situation is changing fast) that about a half of B&H territory and a half of population is facing either floods or consequences of the floods: cut off from electricity, communications, roads, etc. The majority of roads from Sarajevo to other parts of the country are closed. The only part of country that is still unaffected is Herzegovina (Mostar).
  •  FB&H cantons in total collapse: Tuzla Canton, Zenica-Doboj Canton and Posavina Canton, inhabited by 45% of FB&H population.
  • Partly affected FB&H cantons: Central-Bosnia (Travnik with surrounding areas), Una-Sana (Ključ and Sanski Most with their surrounding areas), Bosnian-Podrinje (Goražde with surrounding areas), and  Sarajevo canton (Ilidža and Vogošća with surrounding areas).
  • Not affected FB&H cantons: Herzegovina-Neretva, West Herzegovina and Canton 10.
  • RS regions in total collapse: Bijeljina and Doboj area, inhabited by 30% of RS population.
  • Additional 36% of RS population inhabit partly affected RS regions: Banja Luka, Prijedor, Bosanska Kostajnica, Novi Grad, Prnjavor, Teslić, Bosanski Šamac and some other smaller municipalities.
  • Not affected RS regions: Foča and Trebinje.
  • Brčko District is also in total collapse caused by floods.

Situation in Serbia

  • It is estimated that over 60% of Serbian population is affected by this situation in general, some in need of help, with others providing it.
  • Western and Central Serbia are in total collapse due to floods and landslides, with at least 70% of population either directly affected or helping others.
  •  Vojvodina: Srem county is entirely devastated by floods. Northern and Eastern parts of Vojvodina (Backa and Banat) are not directly affected, yet they are heavily involved in helping family and friends in other regions.
  • In city of Belgrade there is more mental pressure and stress due to expected news of Sava river rising with Danube following. A major refugee center for affected is also located there with many people helping them.
  • Eastern and Southern Serbia are in general less or non-affected by floods with few cases of landslides.
  • The “normal” life in Serbia is paused

Situation in Croatia

  • Brodsko-posavska and Vukovarsko-srijemska counties are flooded, with Osječkobaranjska and Požeško-slavonska counties also partly affected.
  • A lot of people are evacuated from those areas and a new wave of floods is expected from rising rivers.

More information:

Dženis Midžić
Valicon d.o.o.
Branilaca Sarajeva 20, Sarajevo
T. +387 62 339 731
F. +387 33 258 656
E. [email protected]

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