Samsung Electronics Adriatic Donates to Croatian Red Cross for Quake-Hit Areas
January 29, 2021 - As a global and socially responsible company that actively participates in the local community's life, to help the earthquake-affected areas, Samsung Electronics Adriatic donated 150,000 kunas to the Croatian Red Cross.
Due to the strong earthquake that hit Banovina at the end of 2020, including the towns of Petrinja, Sisak, and Glina and the surrounding area, many lost their homes and property. A month after the 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Sisak-Moslavina County, donations do not stop coming from all sides. Samsung Electronics Adriatic also decided to make a contribution and, together with its employees, made a financial donation to the Croatian Red Cross to help earthquake-affected areas.
Samsung responded to the Red Cross's appeal with this donation to help the residents of the affected areas, to provide them with the necessary assistance and decent living conditions.
"As an international company that actively participates in the daily life of the local community, Samsung has decided to donate 150,000 kunas to the Croatian Red Cross, which is currently working on collecting humanitarian aid, so that all affected citizens get the help they need. An additional contribution to this donation was provided by the company's employees, who donated their own funds. At Samsung Electronics Adriatic, we think globally and act locally," said the newly elected President of Samsung Electronics Adriatic Hyoung Min. Park.
Samsung Electronics Adriatic operates in eight countries in the region. These include Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, and Northern Macedonia. It sets new standards in the world of televisions, smartphones, wearables, tablets, digital home devices, network systems, as well as solutions in the areas of memory, LSI systems, and LED devices.
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New Measures from Midnight: Restaurants, Cafes, and Gyms in Croatia Remain Closed
January. 29, 2021 - New measures in Croatia for schools and sports will enter into force as of midnight. Restaurants, cafes, and gyms in Croatia remain closed.
The National Civil Protection Headquarters held a press conference to report on the current epidemiological situation in Croatia and coronavirus vaccination and anti-epidemic measures. At yesterday's session, the Government presented a minimal easing of measures.
In the last 24 hours, 561 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, and the number of active cases in Croatia today is a total of 3117, the National Civil Protection Headquarters announced. Among them, 1286 patients are in hospital, of which 121 are on a ventilator. Twenty-nine people died, the Headquarters announced.
The average age of the deceased was 79 years, and the youngest deceased was 38 years old. Five-hundred-eighty-eight people recovered.
In the last 24 hours, 5,020 people were tested, and the percentage of positives was 11.18%, Vera Katalinić Janković reported at the press conference.
So far, a total of 58,585 people have been vaccinated.
According to the new measures in force from midnight, elementary schools will go back to in-person classes, and sports activities will be allowed outodoors, swimming pools, and sports bubbles. Restaurants, cafes, and gyms will remain closed, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.
HZJZ director Krunoslav Capak reported on the 14-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants.
"A week ago, there were 643 new cases out of 4863 tested, and two weeks ago 715 new cases out of 5335 tested. In the first 5 days of this week, there were 2619 new cases, and last week 3015. The number is 13% less than the previous week's figure, so we have a further mitigated downward trend. The incidence per county is 189.0 on average. Sisak-Moslavina has the highest incidence, and Istria has the lowest. Croatia ranks 7th in the EU rankings. Six countries have a lower incidence than us. The total mortality rate per million inhabitants is 1196.8, which puts us in 20th place in the ranking of EU countries. In the last week, the average share of positive tests was 11.2. We spent more than 79,000 vaccine doses. To date, we have received 409 side effects to the Pfizer vaccine and 11 suspected side effects to the Moderna vaccine. These are mainly local reactions, fever, pain at the site of application, and headache, and there have been more serious reactions to the Pfizer vaccine. Two required the use of adrenaline and 22 the use of other medications," Capak said.
Vili Beroš said that today, for the first time, the number of hospitalized is below 1,300 after a long time, but it is still a difficult clinical picture and that we have a large number of deaths.
"This indicates that the clinical picture is still relatively difficult. This allows us to think cautiously in giving in to measures, but not in relaxed behavior. The fact and new strains of the virus in our neighborhood and the current vaccination delay should be taken into account. We must be aware of that, and that emphasizes our responsible behavior, and there is no alternative to that," said Minister Vili Beroš.
Davor Božinović said that the decision on the necessary restrictive measures and recommendations would take effect tomorrow, i.e., tonight at midnight.
"We have decided that the decision will take effect tonight at midnight and will last until February 15."
Patient associations are demanding that high-risk groups be vaccinated with vaccines that are 95 percent effective.
"Not only high-risk but all other citizens as well. They should be allowed to be vaccinated with the best possible vaccine, but the question is what kind of vaccines are available to us. I support such an idea. People who are chronically ill and of old age are the first to be vaccinated, and it should be emphasized that they should be able to be vaccinated with the highest quality vaccines. Numerous discussions are taking place on the topic of which vaccine to procure. The one that is safe and effective. We cannot count on vaccines that are only now in the testing phase since there is no reliable evidence that they are effective. Some more manufacturers are developing new vaccines. Novavax is in the 2nd and 3rd phase of the clinical trial, in the 3rd phase of the study in Britain it showed an efficiency of 89 percent for the common and new strain of the virus," said Beroš.
Capak answered whether the Astra Zeneca vaccine will be registered today and when it will come to the Republic of Croatia.
"Vaccines for the EU are registered with the European Medicines Agency, which has strict procedures and legislation. This means that someone who does not meet these criteria cannot apply and register. That is the price of the safety of our vaccines. They guarantee safety. For other vaccines for which we do not have data and have not been marketed transparently, we cannot claim to be safe. We are waiting for the European Medicines Agency to say whether the vaccine is safe and effective.
Data saying that the Astra Zeneca cannot be used for people over 65 cannot be confirmed because we do not have enough data. At the end of the day, it was agreed that the Astra Zeneca vaccine would be registered today. It was announced that we should receive 156,158 doses of their vaccine by the end of February, in three tranches," Capak said.
Bozinovic referred to the announcements of protests by caterers and gym owners for not loosening measures.
"I still hope that will not happen because there is no reason for that. The measures are just an extension of measures that have been valid for two months, and in those two months, we have concluded that although we still have the most liberal measures in Europe, we also have a clear downward trend in the number of new infections. That number still needs to go down. We must take care of our lives and health. The epidemiological profession has set priorities in preparing this decision, and they do not refer only to this situation but are of a principled nature. When it comes to concessions, the basic rule is that it must be gradual, and given the circumstances surrounding the new variant of the virus and the delay of the vaccine, we must go cautiously. In this context, our Epidemiology Reference Center has set clear principles: if it goes with affordability, health comes first, including sports and education, then the economy, and then other activities. I see no reason for anything to change here. No one in the world has found a recipe for these activities. In EU member states, these facilities have been closed since October. We tried to keep them as open as possible. Representatives of caterers then clearly told us that 90 percent of their members do not adhere to epidemiological measures," said Bozinovic.
"We brought a framework that is difficult to implement in practice, both in terms of the number of people and spacing. At that time, the public space was flooded with information that it was impossible to implement; I'm not sure it was impossible. Then our numbers started to grow; we said the next step was closure, and that’s what happened. It is still winter outside; if it were 24 degrees, the terraces would surely be open. This is not yet a period when the virus is starting to spread less," the minister added.
"We said clearly on February 15, if the numbers are still lower, if a new variant of the virus does not occur, we assume that the situation will be clearer with the vaccine, then we can talk about correcting things to everyone's satisfaction. It is not our goal to harm anyone; the goal is not to repeat November when hospital capacities were on the verge of a breakdown. Do we really need to find ourselves in a difficult situation and repeat the lessons learned? Or can we take all the elements into account and make a rational decision?" said Bozinovic.
"The concession must be gradual. First is education and health, including sports, then the economy, which we did not even close, and only then everything else," Bozinovic added.
Bozinovic explained how training pools could work.
"No showering and use of common areas. Staying in the pool is less risky because of the chlorine in the water and the humidity in the air, which means that the virus spreads more slowly. In practice, that means: you come to the pool, you change, when you go out, you change again and go home. There are no delays, shared locker rooms, showers ... All this can be done at home, the main goal is to train," Bozinovic explained.
He also answered what criteria the Headquarters was guided by when it came to easing measures.
"The criteria we communicated. The opinion of epidemiologists is that one can go into small concessions. This must be gradual and cautious, and in that sequence, the prioritization of concessions starts from education and health, then the economy, and then everything else. With concrete solutions, something was proposed in the wake of what turned into decisions," said Bozinovic.
One journalist asked about opening schools, as counties decide. For example, Brod-Posavina opens high schools, while Istria won't open schools at all.
"They can actually make independent decisions based on recommendations. Our principled position is that counties at this stage can make decisions that are stricter than national ones, but this does not apply when we talk about the school system. We start from the fact that they can assess the situation because the counties are quite different from each other. These are not situations that need to be cut horizontally. I see no problem in the fact that some counties make their own decisions. We do not see that as a problem," said Bozinovic.
Capak answered whether the members of the Government and the Headquarters received the second dose of the vaccine.
"On January 15, we learned that there is a possibility that Pfizer will deliver smaller amounts of the vaccine in 4 weeks. That came true; the first small quantity that arrived, arrived now on Monday. Due to this lack of vaccines, there has been a change in the dynamics of vaccination. We told everyone to keep other doses. Once the vials are taken out of the fridge, they have to be consumed within 5 days. Thus we will be vaccinated now on Tuesday."
Who will be legally liable if the vaccine causes side effects?
"It's a legal issue. Manufacturers received approval after reviewing the documentation; they were required to report everything they saw during clinical studies. The fourth clinical phase is eternal as long as a drug or vaccine exists; some side effects can be recorded even after 5, 10, or 15 years. Once a side effect of the vaccine is proven, medical tests go on, and lawyers can also have a verdict if a dispute arises. That is not an unequivocal question," said Alemka Markotić.
Where did the flu go?
"So far, we have not recorded a single case of influenza in the Republic of Croatia. We examined several samples and found no flu. That doesn't mean she's gone. Some countries in the northern hemisphere report the flu, but there are only a few cases. It seems that the incidence of influenza here will be lower compared to the presence of influenza last year. Measures against Covid are certainly effective against the flu, as they spread in the same way by droplets. The masks do not protect 100% against any respiratory infection. If the presence of the flu were greater, surely some who wear a mask would get sick," Capak said.
In Croatia, everyone will receive the second dose on time, Capak confirmed.
Capak also mentioned negotiations on the Russian vaccine.
"The usual procedure of agreement with the European Medicines Agency is being done. At the moment, we do not have information on the content of those talks and what would be the dynamics of handing over the registration in the EU," Capak said.
Alemka Markotić pointed out that it is not a problem if someone does not receive a second dose on a specific day, but the problem is if there are parts of the world that do not have the vaccine.
"We are constantly exhausted looking for the culprits for something for every little thing. Who is to blame if Pero Perić was not vaccinated on the 26th but the 28th day and fell ill. That is not the essence. The bottom line is when the whole world will have enough vaccines for everyone, even the poorest, to get vaccinated at least once. Then the world will be the safest. It will not save those who have provided vaccination to 80% of the population, and if they are not vaccinated and remain in the world, the virus will continue to spread. Those who think they are protected by vaccination may become infected with another variant of the virus. Let's be positive about what we can do best to get vaccinated here as well as the rest of the world," said Markotić.
Capak again referred to negotiations with other vaccine manufacturers.
"The EU is not negotiating with the Chinese manufacturer. What has been mentioned is that the Russian manufacturer has shown interest in registering the vaccine in the EU, and we do not know anything about the results of these talks. Logically, they would be interested, and, logically, the Chinese manufacturer is looking for its market in the eastern parts. Croatia has reserved 900,000 doses of the Johnson / Johnson vaccine, and this vaccine is given only once, not two doses. Other manufacturers with which the EU is negotiating offer delivery when it does not suit us. We need it as soon as possible. We had promises from the first registered large quantities very early, and those who offer us in the 1st quarter of 2022 are too late for us. In total, we have ordered more than 6 million doses," said Capak, adding that this will be enough for the entire Croatian population, and everything should be delivered during this year.
"We don't think about other manufacturers if they don't offer us the vaccine early enough because we don't need it later," he added.
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Croatia Confirms 561 New Coronavirus Cases, 29 Deaths
ZAGREB, 29 January, 2021 - Croatia has registered 561 new coronavirus cases and 29 related deaths in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team reported on Friday morning.
The number of active cases currently stands at 3,117 and among them are 1,286 infected persons receiving hospital treatment, including 121 who are on ventilators. A total of 15,389 people are in self-isolation.
A total of 1,180,851 people have been tested for the novel virus to date, including 5,020 in the last 24 hours.
Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was confirmed in the country, 231,539 people have been infected with the virus, of whom 4,972 have died and 223,450 have recovered, including 588 in the last 24 hours.
Split Fish Market Reveals Unusual Mantis Shrimp Never-Before-Seen in Adriatic
January 29, 2021 - One fishmonger at the Split Fish Market caught an unusual creature in the Adriatic this week, a type of Mantis shrimp never-before-seen in the Adriatic, at least according to official data.
"Yesterday, we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the type of mantis shrimp (Stomatopod). This species normally lives in the Atlantic and very rarely is seen in the Mediterranean. And here it is, for the first time in the Adriatic," reads the Split Fish Market Facebook page, as reported by 24 Sata.
Little is known about this species, they say, and this discovery will certainly help detect it in the future.
"The creature in question was caught in front of Rogoznica at some 80/100 meters depth with the MARETA 1 trawl. Since we assumed that it was rare, we contacted the Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, which immediately collected it and took it for additional analysis and research. After that, it will be placed in the Natural History Museum in Rijeka," the Split Fish Market added.
Experts claim that it is Parasquilla ferussaci, a mantis shrimp from the Parasquillidae family. It was first discovered in 1928.
This rare species lives at depths of 100 to 800 meters and had not been recorded in the Adriatic so far.
Considering that it was discovered here for the first time, the creature does not yet have a Croatian name. The Split Fish Market asked their followers for help in coming up with a name for the new species.
"Our task today is to give it a Croatian name because it does not have one, since it has never been caught here... Let's have a little imagination," they concluded.
What do you think it should be called? Comment on the Split Fish Market Facebook post and see the unique answers so far!
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Croatia Demands Apology from Serbia for Calling Knin "Serbian Occupied Town"
ZAGREB, 29 January, 2021 - Croatia demanded an apology from Serbia on Thursday after a member of a Serbian delegation referred to Knin as "Serbian and occupied" and expressed hope that the Serbian flag would again fly over it.
Miloš Stojković, a humanitarian worker and theologian, was in a delegation led by the state secretary of the Serbian Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government who visited Serb communities in Šibenik-Knin-County on the occasion of a Serbian religious holiday.
While climbing on the Knin Fortress, Stojković filmed a video in which he greeted his friends from the "Serbian occupied territory." "We are in our Krajina again, this is Knin, long live Serbia," he said.
The video was posted on Facebook and was later removed.
"Here they celebrate the so-called Operation Storm, the pogrom of the Serbian people, and we are here to show them as much as we can that this here is still the Serbian Krajina," Stojković said, pointing the camera towards the top of the fortress and saying: "There on the top is their flag, God willing we will fly ours one day, this is occupied Serbian Knin."
From 1991 to 1995 Knin was the centre of the so-called Republic of Serbian Krajina, a breakaway territory under the control of local Serbs who rebelled against the Croatian authorities. The town was liberated in August 1995 in a military offensive dubbed Operation Storm.
The Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has strongly condemned this "scandalous act and message that grossly insults Croatia and promotes the defeated ideas of a Greater Serbia."
The ministry expressed regret that such unacceptable statements were made by a person who was part of the official Serbian delegation, "for which we expect an official apology and unequivocal distancing," it said in a statement, adding that it would send a protest note to Serbia.
The incident was also condemned by Knin Mayor Marko Jelić.
SDP Dissolves Zagreb and Vukovar Branches
ZAGREB, 29 January, 2021 - The presidency of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has decided to dissolve the party's organisations in Zagreb and Vukovar, SDP leader Peđa Grbin announced at a press conference after a presidency meeting on Thursday evening.
The SDP leadership has asked the party's Vukovar branch not to support former mayor Željko Sabo as a mayoral candidate in May's local elections because Sabo had been convicted of corruption for trying to bribe a local councillor.
"The SDP in Vukovar ignored this recommendation, so the presidency today adopted the only possible decision - to dissolve the SDP's Vukovar town organisation," Grbin said, adding that the SDP had zero tolerance to corruption.
The proposal was supported with 10 votes in favour, one against and two abstentions.
Biljana Gaća, a member of the presidency and president of the SDP Youth Forum, was appointed commissioner for Vukovar. She will meet with potential coalition partners and decide on a candidate for mayor.
Grbin said that the presidency had proposed that the party's main committee dissolve the Zagreb organisation as well after the head of the Zagreb SDP, Gordan Maras, announced that he would not be running for mayor. The proposal was backed by a 12-3 vote, and Davor Terzić, chairman of the Trešnjevka South committee, was appointed commissioner.
Sabo: I'm surprised
Sabo told Hina he was surprised by the presidency's decision and would appeal to the main committee and statutory commission to prove that it was a wrong decision.
His candidacy for mayor received unanimous support at a meeting of the SDP Vukovar committee on Wednesday. Although he has been legally rehabilitated, he is being faulted for the guilty verdict and the fact that several criminal proceedings against him are in progress.
Sabo said that a poll had been conducted among the party's 408 members in Vukovar and that 371 of them, or 91 percent, supported him with their signatures.
Asked if he was going to resign from the SDP if the situation remained as it was and run in the local election as an independent candidate, he replied in the negative.
Curious About Highest-Paid Jobs in Croatia? A Look at Croatian Salaries, from Best to Worst
January 29, 2021 - Ever wonder about the highest-paid jobs in Croatia? A look at Croatian salaries, from the best to lowest-paid workers.
Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the highest-paid workers in Croatia are flight controllers whose average monthly salaries last year of HRK 26,260 are almost four times higher than the average. In contrast, the lowest-paid workers, seamsters and seamstresses, with an average of HRK 3,780, need seven months to work for one flight controller's salary.
According to the Moj Posao portal, referring to data from the MojaPlaća service, in the pandemic 2020, the average monthly net salary with salary supplements in Croatia was HRK 6,712, four percent or HRK 285 more than the average salary from the year before.
The median salary for last year amounted to HRK 6,125. It increased less than the average, by two percent or HRK 125 compared to the year before, which means that a larger number of respondents receiving a salary is lower than the average salary than those with above-average salaries.
The best-paid workers last year, along with flight controllers, were pilots with average salaries of HRK 14,950, various managers with average salaries ranging around HRK 14,900, followed by IT employees such as IT architects with an average of HRK 14,300, engineers and programmers with HRK 13,400 and HRK 13,320, respectively. Textile workers earn the least, especially seamsters and seamstresses, with an average salary of HRK 3,780, tailors with HRK 3,870, and shoemakers with an average of HRK 3,910.
With data on last year's salaries, you can find the current list of the lowest and best-paid jobs according to MojaPlaća.hr, which monitors the amounts of salaries for 296 jobs, and their research currently covers 36,000 respondents.
While there are not too many surprises on the list of the highest salaries, on the list of currently lowest-paid occupations, you will find post workers (HRK 4,523), undertakers (HRK 4,315), as well as florists, beauticians, and hairdressers.
MojPosao reveals that in the pandemic last year, despite the economic crisis, the average monthly net salary in none of the industries decreased compared to 2019. They add that companies best pay employees from the IT and telecommunications sector, where salaries are 30 percent higher than the average. This activity recorded the highest average growth of monthly income (6%) compared to the previous year.
In the past 10 months, 19 percent of employees received financial bonuses. The cash compensation for working in an emergency was mostly distributed to their employees by companies from the activities that had the most challenging period. Thus, bonuses were mostly distributed by companies from trade (25%), transport (23%), and health (23%). Even though the total number of employees to whom employers provide certain benefits has not changed significantly since 2019, the type of benefits to which employees are entitled has changed.
Jobs with the highest average salaries, MojaPlaća
1. Flight controller HRK 24,367
2. Leasing manager HRK 18,529
3. Lead developer HRK 16,753
4. General Manager HRK 16,664
5. Pilot HRK 16,516
6. IT manager HRK 16,395
7. IT director HRK 16,112
8. Head of Finance and Accounting HRK 15,863
9. Regional director HRK 15,340
10. Branch manager HRK 14,849
11. Sales director HRK 14,771
12. Sales and Marketing director HRK 14,688
13. Director of Finance and Accounting HRK 14,673
14. Logistics director HRK 14,667
15. Executive director HRK 14,221
16. Branch director HRK 13,985
17. Product owner HRK 13,848
18. DevOps engineer HRK 13,820
19. Production director HRK 13,794
20. IT architect HRK 13,735
Jobs with the lowest average salaries, MojaPlaća
1. Seamsters and Seamstresses, HRK 3650
2. Nanny HRK 3883
3. Cleaner HRK 3885
4. Textile technician HRK 3889
5. Tailor HRK 3943
6. Unskilled worker HRK 3993
7. Hairdresser HRK 4051
8. Pedicurist HRK 4056 k
9. Shoemaker HRK 4111
10. Lifeguard, swimming instructor HRK 4235
11. Reception desk worker HRK 4254
12. Funeral service worker HRK 4315
13. Security guard HRK 4321
14. Maid (tourism) HRK 4329
15. Interviewer HRK 4363
16. Florist/arranger HRK 4431
17. Worker in furniture production HRK 4490
18. Post worker HRK 4523
19. Beautician HRK 4566
20. Caretaker at school HRK 4566
To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Flights to Croatia: Croatia Airlines Reduces International Traffic in February
January 29, 2021 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Croatia Airlines reduces international traffic in February.
Ex Yu Aviation reports that due to entry restrictions and requirements in European Union member states, Croatian national airline Croatia Airlines will reduce its international network of destinations next month.
Namely, in February, Croatia Airlines will connect Zagreb with Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Rome (via Split), Brussels, Copenhagen, Zurich, Paris, and Skopje, reducing its network to nine international destinations. Croatia Airlines will not run to Sarajevo and Vienna next month, even though the airline operated to those destinations in January.
Non-stop flights will be maintained from Split to Frankfurt, Rome, and Munich, and it will maintain its extensive domestic network next month.
Ex Yu Aviation adds that the Croatian airline concentrates on flights where passengers can continue to connect through its partners.
“Croatia Airlines is a regional carrier with the prime purpose of connecting Croats with Europe and the rest of the world through major European hubs with connections to the networks of our Star Alliance partners. We will continue to connect major European hubs as this is our strategy, and it will remain unchanged. However, we will also provide connections for Croatian people to fly within the country, and we will continue to provide direct links to Croatian holiday destinations from around Europe. We believe that the hub and spoke system will survive. Croatia Airlines is a strong regional operator with a clear goal. It is also well connected with many other airline partners through its interline and codeshare agreements and part of the best alliance in the world - Star Alliance," Croatia Airlines' CEO, Jasmin Bajić, had said.
Commenting on the airline’s expectations in the post-pandemic era, Bajić added:
"Being a small airline may be an advantage to surviving the global turmoil - we can be more flexible during this time and more daring in seizing any new opportunity on the market. There is a downside as well - there are fewer means for investment compared to the bigger carriers. We are considering a few scenarios for the post-pandemic Croatia Airlines and each of them has the goal of positioning the company onto new markets and strengthening its position in existing markets."
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Vukovar Hospital War Doctor Treats Earthquake-Affected For Free
January 29, 2021 – Dr. Sadika Biluš had the chance to leave the war-era Vukovar Hospital as bombs increasingly rained down on the town. She refused and stayed to treat hundreds of wounded people before the hospital was captured and she was sent to a concentration camp. Today, she offers free treatment to all those from earthquake-affected Sisak-Moslavina at her polyclinic in nearby Velika Gorica
'I went through the war in Vukovar and the (concentration) camps, I know what suffering is,' Dr. Sadika Biluš told journalist Lada Novak Starčević in an interview with Jutarnji List, 'so I treat people from Banija for free.'
'I am not a cook, nor a roofer, but I know how to treat people, wrote Dr. Bilus on social media immediately after the earthquake of 29 December 2020 and opened the doors of her clinic for free to all those from the earthquake-affected area. 'So I offer free internal medicine examinations and therapy to the victims of the earthquake.'
These days Dr. Sadika Biluš owns and runs the Tomi Polyclinic for Internal Medicine and Gynecology in Velika Gorica. Her doctor's surgery may lie some 60 kilometres to the north of the earthquake's epicentre, but many polyclinics in the affected area are still not back up-and-running. The main hospital for the region, in Sisak, was heavily damaged and its gynecology department completely destroyed. Specialist examinations, such as the ones performed by Dr. Biluš, are currently near non-existent in the affected area. Dr. Biluš's own premises received damage during the fierce tremor.
Velika Gorica, where Dr. Biluš's Tomi Polyclinic for Internal Medicine and Gynecology is located © Croatian National Tourist Board
It would come as no surprise to learn the earthquake had not put Dr. Biluš off her stride. She has experienced worse. During Croatia's war for independence, she was working in Vukovar hospital. The town was the most heavily damaged place in Croatia by artillery fire. As the number of shells increased and the guns drew nearer, she was offered the opportunity to leave Vukovar hospital. She refused. She stayed behind to look after the injured and the dying. The cost of this action was her freedom. When Vukovar hospital was captured, Dr. Biluš was taken to a concentration camp. She was released at the end of 1991.
'After Vukovar and all the torment we went through, I did not cry,' Dr. Bilus recounted to the journalist. Following the earthquake, she was deeply moved by seeing on TV all of the help offered immediately to those in the earthquake area. 'But now I cried terribly and out of emotion because that accident encouraged people to do so much good.'
Hercegovac Begs Cro PM 'Open Borders So I Can Send My Wife To Her Mother'
January 29, 2021 – Lockdown is apparently taking a toll on one Hercegovac. The man from Široki Brijeg wrote to Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and begged him to reopen the borders between Croatia and Herzegovina so he could eject his wife from the family home for a month and send her to his mother-in-law's
The message from Hercegovac Ante Zovko (Ante Marinkov) was reposted on the Facebook page Imocki crnjaci where it picked up some 3 thousand likes in less than 6 hours.
The town, Široki Brijeg, where this particular Hercegovac (a man from Herzegovina) lives is just 35 kilometres from the border with Croatia. Lots of Croatians live in this area, including this Hercegovac, his wife and his child. But not, it would seem, his wife's mother, who apparently lives in Croatia.
Široki Brijeg in Herzegovina, around 35 kilometres across the border from Croatia © Anto (talk)
The Hercegovac's reason for wishing to eject his wife and child for a month was to change up the atmosphere for a time. One presumes he was not being entirely serious with his request.
The Hercegovac is not the first man to seemingly reach the end of his tether while restricted to staying in the family home. In April 2020, after just one month of being housebound, a man from a village near Osijek in Slavonia left his wife in the family home and went to live nearby in a tent.
Speaking anonymously at the time, the man's neighbour told the local SiB.hr news portal the couple have been happily married for 30 years. But, it seems the pressure of being around each other so closely during the lockdown was too much even for their strong union.
The neighbour was happy to report that since his friend pitched his tent in the nearby locale, relations between the man and his wife had actually returned to their usual levels of warmth and friendliness. The wife even came regularly to visit her husband in his tent.
© John Waring
"My neighbour has been in his tent for a few days now,” he told the portal back in April. “He puts up a table and chairs in front. Occasionally our other neighbour comes over to drink some rakija (with him). I visited him too.”
The neighbour said his friend had quit the family home due to boredom more than anything else. Even after being happily married for 30 years, being around each other 24 hours a day was apparently just too much.
Perhaps in this more chivalrous response from the Slavonian man, Hercegovac Ante Marinkov could take some inspiration? After all, it's surely easier if one person departs from his family home in order to change the atmosphere than if two are forced to leave. Ante should find a nice spot in the fields nearby – not too close – and simply pitch up a tent. Problem solved! If he's lucky, his wife might come to visit bringing rakija.
