January 5, 2021 – After a donation of 2 million kuna, A1 Croatia gives its customers 120 GB of additional free internet traffic to make communication easier for earthquake-affected area residents.

A1 Croatia provides 120 GB of additional free internet traffic on their A1 mobile lines for users whose homes have been damaged. Also, on Tomato lines, A1 gives a free option of 500 min/SMS. All business users from the affected area will receive 150 GB of free data traffic in January, A1 Croatia reported.

Users who cannot use A1 services due to damage can either put it into "sleep mode" free of charge during non-use, request the disconnection of fixed services (free of charge and without the need to return the equipment), or activate replacement fixed services such as Flatbox.

"In this challenging year for all residents of Croatia, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Zagreb and the last devastating earthquake in the broader area of Sisak, Petrinja, and Glina, the A1 Croatia mission is active assistance to the community. We are at the disposal of the Government of the Republic of Croatia," said A1 Croatia.

A1 Croatia has already donated 2 million kuna to repair the aftermath of the earthquakes in the cities of Petrinja, Sisak, and Glina and other cities and municipalities affected by the devastating earthquakes.

Also, A1 Croatia provided additional communication equipment for Sisak General Hospital and the radio stations in Petrinja and Sisak, as the local radio was the first source of information about the earthquake for the local population.

They donated ten free lines for the Croatian Red Cross employees. They also provided free minutes of conversations for experts who provide psychological assistance. A1 employees collect essential hygiene items, food and water, blankets, pillows, lamps, batteries, and other necessary things to deliver to the affected area.

For more on the Petrinja earthquake and to see how you can donate money, food, humanitarian, sanitary, and material aid, follow our dedicated section.

January 5, 2021 - Some thoughts of a former emergency humanitarian aid worker on the earthquake response in Petrinja, Sisak and Glina.

After the Petrinja earthquake last week, TCN visited Petrinja, Sisak, Glina and Majske Poljane to try and paint a picture of the realities on the ground of the destruction and emergency response. You can read more in Majske Poljane, Glina, Petrinja: A Foreigner View of Croatia's Emergency Response (there is also a Croatian version).

I was subsequently contacted by the Croatian media for an interview about the earthquake response in my capacity as a former emergency humanitarian aid worker. Before moving to Croatia in 2003, I worked as an aid worker for CARE International in emergency response in the Ural Mountains, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, and Somalia in 2002. 

You can see the original article in Croatian here, and the full interview is in English below. Please be warned that if you decide to watch the video on the Armenian earthquake in 1988, which killed 25,000 people, it is harrowing.

You’ve visited the area that was hit by the earthquake. What are your general impressions? Is it as bad as it looks?

I think earthquake sites are always worse than they look, as many of the buildings may still be standing and looking relatively unharmed from the outside, but are actually inhabitable. 

I have never covered an earthquake as a journalist before and was not sure where to start. We decided to leave very early (5am), so as not to add to any traffic congestion. We decided to start in Majske Poljane, which we had heard was the most affected place. It was horrendous, with every building affected, many completely destroyed. One always gets only part of the story on the ground. It was only later that I learned that the destroyed house with 10 bewildered horses that was our first stop was the home where four people tragically died. 

After such a shocking introduction, Glina and Petrinja seemed - on the surface - to be a lot less damaged. But as I said earlier, much of the real damage is not available to the naked eye. Some official compared it to the ruins of Hiroshima, which I don't think was very helpful. That impression is also due to the outstanding clean-up operation which took place through the night. A friend in Petrinja showed me photos he had taken soon after the earthquake 24 hours earlier - it was a totally different place. My full respect to all who responded so quickly and magnificently.

(Gyumri in Armenia after the 1988 earthquake)

The biggest earthquake site I visited as an aid worker was Gyumri in Armenia, a 7.0 quake which killed 25,000 people in 1988. Gorbachev promised to rebuild everything, but soon the Soviet Union was no more, and we were delivering humanitarian aid to people living in containers 5 years later. While I don't expect anything like the same situation in Petrinja, Glina and Sisak, it would be heartening to know that the region will not be forgotten once all the initial media attention and emergency response dies down, as it was in 1995. 

As a former aid worker, can you tell me from your experience what is the most important thing if you want to help people that were hit by some kind of catastrophe? 

Organisation over emotion. I should say, however, that I don't think Croatia has many lessons to learn from foreigners, or former aid workers like me. Croatia's emergency response is second to none, and there is no nation stronger in adversity than Croatia.  

But the question of organisation is key. The overwhelming urge is to get in the car and bring food and supplies to help. Without coordination, this can quickly congest the system, as well as neglecting lesser-known areas. Croatia has experts in emergency response. We interviewed HGSS chief Josip Granic while in Petrinja and asked what advice he had for those looking to volunteer. His response was to contact the local Civil Protection Headquarters, which is sound advice. 

I should point out that sometimes it is important to pay attention to the type of aid being sent. While cash donations are most welcome, sending materials randomly is not always helpful. Not only can it take up storage space and valuable time documenting and storing them, but they may also not be of any use. Perhaps the most extreme example I can give from my personal experience was after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, where my project received 20 tons of vegetable seed from an American seed company. This was enough to cover large parts of Africa, and it turned out to be a tax write-off from the company. But it really slowed things down, as the 1.5 million sachets of seeds in the container had no description. As an accountable agency, I had to hire 20 local workers for three weeks to document the gift. It was particularly disappointing to find we had received a lot of useless things, such as 8,000 sachets of catnip seeds. 

I haven't followed the response in detail in terms of aid being distributed, but a survival pack work worth 200 kuna, 400 kuna etc with a list of essential items would make things more uniform, and people would know the items most required. 

Should the delivery of humanitarian aid be centralized?

Yes, absolutely. In Rwanda, a country the size of Wales, we had 143 NGOs roaming all over the country in their white 4x4s, some with bibles, some with food, many with agendas. 

Croatia SHOULD be no different, but there is always the sub-plot here called politics. I have a sinking feeling once more after witnessing such a magnificent early response from the heart. Now the recriminations, accusations and distrust are setting in. You and your readers will know more about that than I do.

The reality is, however, that the response shows one of the big divides in Croatia today.  Distrust of the state, lots of heartwarming private initiatives. Back in my aid worker days, it would have been unthinkable to bring the reputation of the Red Cross into question, but there has been plenty on Index and elsewhere on that subject. Lots of foreigners have asked me where to donate. I am recommending the guys at Glas Poduzetnika. Not only are they honest and transparent, but they are big enough and experienced enough to work within the emergency response system for maximum effect. 

What’s the problem with the response of the Croatian local and state authorities in this situation? Why is everything moving so slowly but at the same time chaotically? 

I am not as informed on the details of this, and so perhaps best for me to leave it to others to comment. 

On the other hand, lots of citizens and groups have been doing great work in helping those hit by the earthquake. Is there a way to coordinate those efforts better?

It comes back to organisation over emotion above. Coordination can always be better, and Croatia has lots of experience in this field. It would, I believe, be even better if there was more trust in the authorities. I would suggest that people put their natural desire to provide hands-on help in check and find out what the most practical way to help would be. 

One of the bigger problems is traffic. Should there be some kind of timetable for using the roads that survived the earthquake?  

I was actually surprised at how little traffic there was when we visited the day after. We left very early to avoid it, but the police seemed to have managed things very well. There were a couple of checkpoints around Petrinja. We were allowed to proceed with a press pass. Controlling the traffic is something Croatia does very well. I will never forget how effectively we were confined to our home towns in March - scary but very effective. 

For the latest news from the Petrinja earthquake, visit the dedicated TCN section. 

If you would like to donate to the earthquake relief efforts, my recommendation is Glas Poduzetnika (Voice of Entrepreneurs) fund - full details here.

January 5, 2021 - Croatian DJs will join the United We Stream platform in the Balkans to share the music, art, and culture of the region with listeners around the world. 

Glas Istre reports that the Berlin initiative United We Stream Balkan will present some of the most famous city locations in the region: Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Belgrade and Podgorica. Digital visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy live concerts on Fridays, starting January 8, from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Serbia. The stream can be followed on the YouTube channel and Facebook page United We Stream Balkan. The intention is for local audiences and people around the world to experience Balkan music, art, and culture through live streams on these websites and social platforms.

United We Stream is free for viewers, but donations are welcome. All revenues will contribute to the support of new business models and initiatives in music in the Balkans, but also provide funding for the initiative "Balkan Rivers - Save the 'Blue Heart' of Europe".

Every Friday, one DJ from Croatia joins the live stream, starting with the Osijek collective Traum, in charge of electronic music parties. The team led by the fantastic DJ Insolate will also feature Walster, Kolek3k, Phrasal and Man from the Lab. Močvara club will lead the stream from Zagreb and will provide a selection from world music to punk and psychedelia. Finally, Rijeka club Crkva will take us back to electronic music with DJs Ana Antonova, Lemon, Borut Cvajner, Evan, and Life 4 Funk. The project was coordinated by the Balkan Advanced Music Conference from Sarajevo and implemented in each of the countries involved by the Goethe-Institut.

"Since March 18, 2020, we have managed to connect 92 cities, 363 locations, 1,800 artists, and 300 live streams and raise 1.5 million euros to support the club culture sector. With recently added streams from Asia, Sweden, and Australia to London, Paris and Madrid, UWS is slowly becoming the largest virtual club in the world," says Danaja A. Volk, global project coordinator.

"In just nine months of the pandemic, the world of music has turned upside down. The current situation has left severe consequences for everyone in the cultural sector, whose community needs stronger support. That is why initiatives like UWS are crucial at the moment," said Mersel Bujak, regional coordinator for the Balkans initiative.

For more on the Petrinja earthquake and to see how you can donate money, food, humanitarian, sanitary, and material aid, follow our dedicated section.

ZAGREB, 5 January 2020 - Deputy PM Tomo Medved, who heads the task force dealing with the aftermath of the December 29 earthquake, has said that the exact number of people who have stayed in their homes in the quake-hit areas will be determined, as will the whereabouts of people who have left their place of residence.

After the first meeting of the task force dealing with the consequences of the earthquake that hit Sisak-Moslavina, Zagreb and Karlovac counties, held in Petrinja on Monday evening, Medved, who is Deputy Prime Minister and War Veterans Minister, said that he had asked for detailed information on how many people had stayed in their homes in the quake-hit areas, whether they be fit for human occupancy or not, as well as on people who had left their homes and their whereabouts.

This is being done so that we could have complete control over who lives in what kind of conditions, Medved told reporters after the meeting of the task force.

He said that according to information available to him, there was no settlement in the earthquake-hit area of Banovina where intervention teams were not present, but noted that it was possible that not every household had been accessed.

Asked about criminal liability for the poorly done post-war reconstruction of houses in Banovina, which were again heavily damaged by the earthquake, Medved said that he would refrain from commenting as preliminary investigations had been announced.

Zinic: I was not in charge of quality control after post-war reconstruction

Asked if he felt personally responsible for the poor quality of post-war housing reconstruction, Sisak-Moslavina County head Ivo Zinic, who at the time was the chief engineer at the Reconstruction Ministry, said that he did not because at the time he "was not in charge of quality control."

He added that a number of stakeholders had been involved in the process of post-war reconstruction - from local consultancies and supervisors to contractors that did work for ministries.

There is a possibility that there were irregularities but the competent services will determine if the houses were built in line with the relevant regulations, Zinic said.

Those were new houses, designed and built by authorised companies, he said.

ZAGREB, 5 January 2021 - Deputy Prime Minister Tomo Medved said in Petrinja on Monday that the newly-established task force dealing with the aftermath of the December 29 earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County, which he was heading, would operate 24 hours a day for all those in need of help.

Medved was appointed in line with a government decision to head the task force dealing with the consequences of the December 29 earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina, Zagreb and Karlovac counties.

The task force held its first meeting in the Petrinja barracks on Monday evening.

"We have received reports on work done so far to remove the consequences of the earthquake (in Sisak-Moslavina County). We have heard reports from the county head and the mayors of Sisak, Glina and Petrinja. This task force will operate 24 hours a day," Medved said after the meeting, noting that all information on the task force staff and its phone numbers would be made available to the public on Tuesday.

The task force will coordinate its activities with the existing emergency and other services and will respond promptly to all current problems as well as plan future operations, in this case reconstruction, said Medved.

Earthquake affects 12 of 19 local gov't units in Sisak-Moslavina County

Sisak-Moslavina County head Ivo Zinic said that the December 29 earthquake had affected 12 of 19 local government units, four big towns and eight municipalities and close to 116,000 people, and that the property of more than 50,000 people had suffered extensive damage.

Thirty churches were damaged, of which ten collapsed, 40 schools have been damaged and 11 have been made unusable, and 3,000 family farms, 700 small businesses and 800 firms have suffered damage, he said.

The county crisis management team has been working in difficult circumstances from the very beginning, but it is functioning, five mobile teams of the county Civil Protection today visited 37 villages and 211 households, Zinic said.

He noted that the biggest problem was the accommodation of people whose houses had been destroyed and organised food preparation for the population and volunteers.

"We are already thinking about the revitalisation of this whole region, this may be an opportunity for that," he said.

17,000 requests for inspection by structural engineers

Construction Minister Darko Horvat said that currently there were more than 17,000 requests for inspection by structural engineers, that 700 structural engineers were out in the field on Monday and that more than 5,500 units were checked, of which 30% were no longer usable.

He said that the owners of properties made unusable by the earthquake were expected to give their consent for the removal of their property.

Units that have been damaged by the earthquake will be repaired, a difference will be made between public and private property and there will be several models of reconstruction, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Boris Milosevic, who is a deputy head of the task force dealing with the aftermath of the December 29 earthquake, said that local officials presented concrete problems at the task force's meeting while representatives of ministries presented concrete figures on resources and the measures taken or expected to be taken.

"This is a good start but there is still a lot of work ahead, we have great responsibility to reconstruct this region and restore life that was devastated not only by the earthquake but also by the war," he stressed, thanking all services active on the ground as well as volunteers.

Nikola Mazar, State Secretary at the Central State Office for Reconstruction and Housing, said the office had made 220 state-owned flats, of which 30 were in the areas of Sisak and Petrinja, available to the earthquake victims.

He noted that the rent and utilities would be paid for by the state.

Mazar said organised reconstruction would be launched and that it would have to be conducted in line with the highest safety standards.

ZAGREB, 5 January 2021 - Physical Planning and Construction Minister Darko Horvat said on Monday that state institutions would determine whether there had been irregularities in the post-war reconstruction of houses in the quake-hit area, many of which had sustained a lot of damage despite that reconstruction.

25% of buildings completely unusable

Horvat, deputy head of a newly-established task force in charge of removing the consequences of a devastating earthquake that hit Sisak-Moslavina, Zagreb and Karlovac counties on December 29, said that over 17,000 damaged buildings had been registered so far, 5,400 of which had been checked by structural engineers, of whom there were more than 700 on the ground, and that 25% of the buildings were completely unusable.

The main priority now is to ensure temporary accommodation not only for citizens of Sisak-Moslavina County but also of Zagreb and Karlovac counties, he said.

Croatian companies must manufacture housing containers for earthquake victims

Asked when housing containers for earthquake victims would arrive, he said that Croatian producers had been contacted and that a certain number of orders had been made.

"We have to be aware of the fact that such products are not is stock, they have to be produced by Croatian companies, and a large portion of the contingent has been ordered from neighbouring countries," Horvat said.

"In the next few days an adequate number of containers will be at the locations, as will mobile homes, and state property will be made available through the state office for housing as well. About 30 flats are being prepared at the moment, so 30 to 35 families will soon be able to find temporary accommodation," he said.

There will be, he added, "adequate preparation for organised reconstruction, through procedures not as complicated as those for Zagreb".

Humanitarian aid to be delivered in agreement with task force

Horvat called on all those who had prepared to deliver humanitarian aid to the quake-hit areas on Tuesday to deliver it in coordination with the task force, the Red Cross and other organisations on the ground and not to act on their own initiative.

By end of week first type of buildings to be determined

"By the end of the week, I also expect the first type of buildings to start off the reconstruction to be determined, and these will be standard buildings, prefabricated, wooden, concrete and masonry buildings, depending on the type of area, whether it is rural or urban," he said.

Horvat is convinced that the situation would be much better and more organised than in the first three days following the earthquake.

"All state institutions have done their job promptly and well, from the Red Cross, the HGSS (Croatian Mountain Rescue Service), the Croatian Army and police," he said.

January 5, 2021 - The modern Veliki Kaštel Interpretation Center was opened in the Kotišina village of Makarska, as the central place for interpreting and presenting the cultural and natural heritage of Kotišina through three exhibition themes.

HRTurizam writes that Makarska has long been one of Croatia's most popular tourist destinations, thanks to its natural beauty, hospitable hosts, and mild climate. In the vicinity of this widely known area, in the small village of Kotišina, with a rich history, a new tourist story and attraction has developed.

Kotišina is a small, sea-facing village that developed at the foot of the cliffs of Biokovo in the highest massif. Thanks to the project "Revitalization of the cultural and historical heritage of the Kotišina hamlet," funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds, the area received several educational trails and the modern Veliki Kaštel Interpretation Center.

Thus, the Veliki Kaštel Interpretation Center was opened in Kotišina, which will be the central place for interpreting and presenting the cultural and natural heritage of Kotišina through three exhibition themes.

The Veliki Kaštel Interpretation Center is located in the multi-story fortress of the same name, which is a historical sensation of Podbiokovlje. The fort on the Biokovo cliffs was built during the Cretan War to provide shelter for the population during the conflict with the Ottomans. Today, its interior has been turned into a modern wonder that tells this beautiful region's story.

The interpretation center is spread across several floors and is the central place for the interpretation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage of the village of Kotišina. The modernly equipped interactive space is divided into three exhibition themes: archaeological, ethnological, and natural heritage. In the center, you can see the archeological exhibits found at the Kotišina site under the guidance of the Makarska City Museum. Through ethnological objects and stories, you can get to know the way and lifestyle of the local population in a fun and interactive way.

As the Biokovo Botanical Garden is located in Kotišina, most of the Interpretation Center is dedicated to the natural heritage and rich plant diversity in the wider local area, especially the heritage of the Biokovo Botanical Garden in Kotišina and the legacy of its founder Fr. Jure Radić.

The garden is designed as "a miniature Biokovo." It is specific for its appearance and characteristics because it contains native flora that is indigenous to the area of ​​the Nature Park and Podbiokovlje. In the garden, you can find various habitats, rocks, cliffs, arable land, cliffs, and the Proslap canyon, where during heavy rains, a waterfall of the same name is created. About 250 different plants can currently be seen in these habitats, many of which are endemic or strictly protected species. Since all species are native, flowering plants can be seen in every part of the year, regardless of climatic conditions, so this garden is also called the "Garden of Twelve Flower Months."

As part of the project, three new thematic interpretation walks were made in the village of Koština near Makarska. All programs have been prepared according to the Interpret Europe Heritage by a licensed tour guide and a certified Heritage Interpreter (CIG). Programs follow the authentic location of the hamlet of Kotišina, including the Church of St. Ante, the Church of St. Martin, Kaštel, the Interpretation Center, and the Botanical Garden.

The programs follow the theme of life in Kotišina, the community of inhabitants, respect for tradition, understanding the context of the time, admiration for nature, and respect for coexistence with it. The programs are ideal for younger or older children, groups or families, and are available in Croatian, English, and Polish. Interpretation walks are intended for tourists and agencies as a new quality and attractive tourist content in the area of ​​Makarska.

The Revitalization project also included the reconstruction of the Church of St. Martin, damaged by the 1962 earthquake. The rich tangible and intangible heritage of Kotišina can be seen in the program of the Integrated tours of the Paths of St. Martin's Brotherhood, while the area around the Church, also part of the ecological network Natura 2000, has been revived for bird watching.

In addition to the Neolithic Church of St. Anthony, an open-air stage PROSLAP was built. The stage gives visitors the impression that the events occur in the middle of untouched nature, at the foot of the mountain cliffs with an unforgettable panoramic view.

As the crown of the project itself, the promotional film Kotišina was made as part of the element of promotion and visibility. All the beauties of Kotišina, the Biokovo Botanical Garden Kotišina, and the Biokovo mountain are summarized in this video.

All activities result from the project "Revitalization of the cultural and historical heritage of the hamlet of Kotišina," funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds.

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January 5, 2021 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Volotea announces 21 lines to Croatia for summer 2021.

Croatian Aviation reports that well-known Spanish low-cost airline Volotea has announced as many as 21 international direct routes to Croatia for the summer of 2021.

Volotea, with operational bases in Spain, Italy, France, and Greece, plans to operate on as many as 21 international routes to two Croatian airports - Dubrovnik and Split.

Lines to Split Airport

According to the airline's current plans, Volotea will operate on as many as 10 international routes to Split Airport in the 2021 summer flight schedule, which will take effect at the end of March. This includes one line from Greece, as many as six from France, and three from neighboring Italy:

Split - Athens from April 25 will run twice a week, every Wednesday and Sunday,

Split - Bordeaux from April 11 will operate once a week, and from June 2 twice a week, every Wednesday and Sunday,

Split - Lyon will operate twice a week from April 11, on Wednesdays and Sundays, and from July 6, the third flight will be added (Tuesdays),

Split - Marseille will be in operation from April 25 twice a week (Wednesdays and Sundays),

Split - Nantes from April 4 will run once, from April 28 twice a week, from July 6 three times (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays),

Split - Nice from April 25 will operate once a week, from July 7 twice a week (Wednesdays and Sundays),

Split - Toulouse will operate twice a week from April 18, from July 6 three times a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays),

Split - Bari will operate once a week from July 7, on Wednesdays,

Split - Palermo will operate from June 2 once a week, on Wednesdays,

Split - Venice will operate 4 times a week from May 28, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

All lines to Split should run until October 10, except for the lines to Bari and Palermo, which should end slightly earlier - on October 6. 

Lines to Dubrovnik Airport

Volotea is planning as many as 11 lines to Dubrovnik. These are two lines to Greece, six to France, and three to Italy:

Dubrovnik - Athens will operate twice a week from April 24, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and from June 1, they will add another flight per week and operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,

Dubrovnik - Mykonos will operate from May 29 twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Dubrovnik - Bordeaux will operate from April 10 twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Dubrovnik - Lyon will operate from April 10 twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Dubrovnik - Marseille will operate from April 24 twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Dubrovnik - Nantes will operate from April 3 once a week, from April 27 three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,

Dubrovnik - Strasbourg will operate from April 24 once a week, on Saturdays,

Dubrovnik - Toulouse will operate from April 17, twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays

Dubrovnik - Bari will operate from June 2 once a week, from July 5 twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays,

line Dubrovnik - Palermo will operate from July 7 once a week, on Wednesdays,

Dubrovnik - Venice will operate twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, from May 28.

Certain routes were in traffic in the 2020 summer flight schedule, but according to a significantly reduced flight schedule, which was expected given the global epidemic. Volotea has released all the lines listed here for the summer of 2021, but there is a possibility that they will reduce the flight schedule to these two Croatian airports if bookings are not satisfactory. 

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