Slovakia mobilized” “

The floods that struck many countries in central and eastern Europe in recent weeks have fortunately only partially involved Slovakia. Only some villages in the mountainous centre of the country and the village of Devin, close to Bratislava, inundated by the Danube, were left under water. A good deal more extensive, indeed, was the “wave of solidarity” provoked by the floods. The images of the many flooded cities and towns in the neighbouring Czech Republic, Germany and Austria touched many hearts and generated a wave of compassion and solidarity. These feelings were translated into numerous initiatives that went well beyond the mere business of collecting funds; besides, from an economic point of view, it’s rather difficult for Slovakia to help countries which have a far stronger currency, such as Germany. Specific actions of solidarity, on the other hand, have multiplied. Of these we give just a few examples. The association “Man in Danger” donated disinfectants worth over 30,000 euros to the flooded areas. A small Slovak village called Prague and comprising no more than 102 souls, succeedeed in collecting 10,000 korunas as a donation to its namesake, capital of the Czech Republic. That’s an insignificant sum in comparison with the enormous damage suffered by the city of Prague, but it represents an extraordinary gesture for so small a village. At the government level, the Slovak ministry of defence offered 90 quintals of materials for disinfestation to the flooded areas, while the ministry of the interior sent a team of experts, who will help to conduct chemical analyses in those regions where the floods have struck the industries that eitheir produce or use poisonous substances. The ministry of agriculture donated two large-capacity hydraulic pumps, requested with the greatest urgency by the Czech Republic. Many Slovak industries have sent their own products to help the flooded areas; for example, rubber gloves, pumps, electrical generators, medicines and vaccines. To coordinate the aid, the consolate of the Czech Republic drew up a list of its needs and requests and placed them at the disposal of all those who wished to donate something. The Orange telephone company made available a telephone hot-line for the collection of aid. Nor should we forget all the volunteers who went to Bohemia to help the stricken population. They included several groups of scouts. These are just some examples of how Slovakia mobilized itself in favour of the neighbouring Czech Republic, in spite of long-standing tensions and divisions between the two countries. It’s as if the floodwater swept away their historical rivalries and made way for feelings of solidarity and charity on behalf of the populations struck by this tragedy. At the ecclesial level, the Slovak Bishops’ Conference made an appeal both for aid and for the prayers of all the faithful. Slovak Caritas helped in organizing the collection and distribution of aid.