THE RECEPTION AND USE OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE: THE EXAMPLE OF THE FLOODS IN SLOVENIA IN 2023

Abstract

In addition to the use of all national resources, the appropriate response to the extensive floods and landslides which hit Slovenia in August 2023 required international assistance. Slovenia received international assistance in the form of helicopters, bridges, heavy machinery and material resources through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), the NATO Alliance, and bilaterally from a total of 17 countries. To support the reception and effective use of international assistance in the event of natural and other disasters there are internationally established concepts and procedures of host nation support (HNS), which have been followed also during disaster in Slovenia. The international assistance received on this occasion was the most extensive so far, both in terms of scope and duration, and represented a major test of the operation of Slovenian HNS. The common evaluation by all involved was that the international assistance was received and used in a rapid, coordinated and effective manner, and with the cooperation of the competent Slovenian disaster response authorities with international units and the European Commission. The main challenges included the large scale of the disaster, the long duration of the required intervention, and some staffing and organizational aspects of HNS in Slovenia.