January 14, 2021 - Transparent donations getting to the people who need them most are essential in emergency response. TCN follows the Voice of Entrepreneurs Glas Poduzetnika (UGP) fund to report on the realities on the ground.

The donations are pouring in from all over the world to help the victims of the earthquakes in Petrinja, Glina and Sisak, donations which have been gratefully received and which are making a difference. 

As I wrote previously, many people have contacted us at TCN asking for advice on the best place to send money. We published a list a few days ago, but I was really happy to see one more fund set up 7 days ago, from Udruga Glas Poduzetnika, or Voice of Entrepreneurs, which is a growing force for reform and change in Croatia. Run by people who want to see an end to corruption and needless red tape, I was sure that their efforts to help their fellow citizens in crisis would be transparent, dynamic, focused and effective, with all money donated going to the people who needed it most. And so it proved, which is why I am now directing anyone looking for a place to donate to UGP, as I explained a few days ago.

UGP co-founder Drazen Orescanin was kind enough to give me an in-depth interview yesterday on the focus, plans and activities of the UGP fund, and it was great to hear that 100% of the money donated will go to help those who need it most.

In order to provide more transparent donation information, we agreed to publish a daily report of the fund's activities, finances and purchases. This was due to be published yesterday, but the crazy events of January 6, 2021 meant a slight delay. As resources and time allow, this will be a daily feature, and you can track progress here.

Daily activities

Today, two housing containers have been delivered to families in Glina. Stanislav Nužda's building and apartment were damaged in the earthquake, and as of today, he can finally sleep safely. Milorad Liter's family of six slept in the woodshed since the earthquake, and thanks to the good people, now they will have a safe roof over their heads during the renovation of their home.

What's next?

On Sunday we plan to deliver two more housing containers to families in need. In the next week, we plan to deliver all of the remaining housing containers and then we will make plans for helping families rebuild their homes. We have gathered experts who will work with us to find the best and quickest solutions.

Information in English for donations, both for donations from Croatia and abroad. 

For the latest news on UGP, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

For the latest information on the earthquake emergency, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

ZAGREB, 14 January 2021 - Croatia is seeing a continued downward trend in the numbers of new coronavirus infections and hospitalisations, which is reducing the pressure on the healthcare system, but there is no room for relaxing because of increases in other European countries, Health Minister Vili Beroš told a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

"For the first time since 22 November we have recorded a decline in the number of hospitalisations below 2,000," Beroš said.

Since many European countries continue to report increased numbers of new cases, despite the improved epidemiological situation in Croatia there is no room for relaxing in adhering to the epidemiological measures in place, the health minister said.

38,281 doses of vaccine have been used since 27 December

"Since 27 December, 38,281 doses of vaccine have been used in Croatia. In terms of the number of vaccinations per 100,000 people, according to yesterday's figures Croatia ranks sixth highest in the EU. 3,652 people have been vaccinated in (earthquake-devastated) Sisak-Moslavina County," Beroš said, adding that 18,489 health workers have been vaccinated to date.

He said that vaccination of people suffering from chronic diseases and people older than 65 who were not in care homes was starting gradually. He stressed the need for establishing mobile teams to vaccinate bed-ridden patients in care homes and teams to vaccinate people at their place of work.

January 14, 2021 - At today's press conference, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that the gyms in Croatia would open before January 31. At the same press conference, he said that all currently valid measures would remain until January 31.

Recall, Index.hr reports that the National Civil Protection Headquarters recently announced that all epidemiological measures adopted in late November would be extended until January 31. Among the most important measures taken at the time were closing restaurants, cafes, and gyms.

Plenkovic was asked today about relaxing strict measures in light of the ever-improving numbers Croatia is recording in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

"A month and a half ago, we had a situation where we were the worst in Europe. Now that we have a decline among the largest in Europe, some people will put pressure on the government or the Headquarters to relax measures as soon as possible, tomorrow. I repeat, COVID-19 is a dangerous, deadly disease, which in Croatia leads to people going to hospitals and on ventilators, and some of them die. Older people and those in poorer health are dying, the average being around 78 years old. We are trying to protect that population. Since the end of November, it is clear that the measures have been successful and have protected the population. We did everything with the huge responsibility of our fellow citizens to reduce contacts, and I think that is good. Given the cold weather, the seasonality, we have no right to relax. Many countries have much more restrictive measures. We did not introduce curfew. In our country, the system was oriented towards balancing anti-epidemic measures and protecting the economy. We achieved an excellent result in that," said Plenkovic, and then began speaking about vaccination.

"We ordered 1.9 million doses from Pfizer, a million doses from Moderna. Most importantly, today, there are indications that the EU Medicines Agency will approve the AstraZeneca vaccine, of which we ordered 2.7 million doses. I said we would finish by April to vaccinate most of the vulnerable population," the prime minister said.

"We have to make a shield for those most at risk. That way, we are preparing for the economic recovery and the tourist season. That means we decided a day or two ago that what is now in force remains until January 31. Don't be afraid; gyms will open before January 31," Plenkovic said.

This confused the journalists present, and one of them asked, "Right away?"

To this, Plenkovic said: "Yes, right now."

"It will be like this until January 31, we will analyze the situation with experts, and then we can loosen measures. The winter months are not months to relax," Plenkovic said.

Index immediately checked the information about gyms opening before January 31 with the National Civil Protection Headquarters. They unofficially said that they did not have that information.

Government: No gym openings before the end of the month

Index also contacted the government.

The government said that "the prime minister announced that the measures will be relaxed depending on the epidemiological situation from February 1 and that he will inform the journalists about it before gyms are reopened."

"There are no gym openings before the end of the month," the government said.

To read more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 14 January 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said at a government session on Thursday that there was no reason whatsoever why the public should not be informed of who had taken part in housing reconstruction after the 1991-95 war.

Plenković said that he had instructed the state secretary of the Central State Office for Reconstruction and Housing to systematise lists on housing reconstruction after the Homeland War in Sisak-Moslavina County, noting that there was no reason why those lists should not be made available to the public.

Data contained in those lists are to be linked with the houses that underwent different types of reconstruction after the war, he said.

"There were many models of reconstruction so it is important to establish all details before making any conclusions," he stressed.

He went on to say that since 28 December 846 quakes had been registered, of which 75 measured 3 degrees on the Richter scale, 11 measured 4 and three measured 5 degrees on the Richter scale.

On 28 December, the quake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale hit Petrinja and was felt in central Croatia, and on 29 December, the magnitude  6.2 quake rocked the area and was felt in a large part of Croatia and neighbouring countries.

He thanked everyone helping the residents of the quake-hit area, including volunteers who in recent weeks came to Sisak-Moslavina County from other parts of the country or from other towns in the county to help the quake victims "either by working, making donations or preparing meals as caterers."

He said that 41,500 reports on quake damage had been submitted so far, and that 18,370 buildings and houses had been inspected.

"Compared to Zagreb, where 25,000 units were checked over a period of three months, this is very efficient and quick," he said.

He stressed that efforts were being stepped up to vaccinate residents of the quake-hit area against COVID-19 considering specific circumstances and difficulties in complying with anti-epidemic measures.

As for one-off allowances to the quake victims of HRK 2,500 for single persons and 3,500 for families, Plenković said that more than 14,000 requests for such assistance had been submitted and that HRK 10.5 million had been paid.

By the time all requests are processed, around HRK 50 million in one-off allowances will have been paid out, he said.

ZAGREB, 14 January 2021 - The APL California ship arrived at the Rijeka Port from China on Thursday, carrying close to one million euros worth of protective equipment which the government procured for the Commodity Stockpiles Directorate from the Chinese company Sinopharm.

The government said in a statement that this was the third delivery of protective gear from China in January.

The latest delivery as well as the previous ones serves to maintain the continuity of protective equipment reserves necessary to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the government said.

After it is unloaded, the equipment will be transported to the Civil Protection logistical centre at Jastrebarsko outside Zagreb from where it will be sent to medical and welfare institutions as well as other institutions involved in the fight against the epidemic.

The value of the protective gear delivered today is €905,934 and it consists of FFP2 face masks, protective overalls and shoe covers.

ZAGREB, 14 January 2021 - The Agriculture Ministry said on Thursday its goal was to ensure such conditions that farmers in earthquake-hit areas can keep their cattle through feed donations, cattle relocation and sale mediation, adding that it had mediated the sale of 114 head of cattle to date.

The ministry was asked by Hina about reports of cattle buyers in quake-hit areas, if it was doing anything about it and if it was considering intervention buying to help farmers.

Some media have reported about profiteers coming to Sisak-Moslavina County to exploit the situation after the earthquake by buying land and cattle below price.

The ministry said it was contacting representatives of the meat and dairy industries to ask them to help by buying cattle and milk from local farmers.

The ministry added that it did not participate in price setting between the two parties and that representatives of the meat and dairy industries had said they would offer fair market prices.

The ministry said its department for farmland, plant production and the market was also mediating between farmers in quake-hit areas and buyers.

Regarding intervention buying, the ministry said it was "the last measure of assistance."

Chamber of Agriculture has no information about profiteers

The Croatian Chamber of Agriculture told Hina it had no concrete information about post-earthquake profiteers in Sisak-Moslavina County.

There is information that several older people have sold their cattle below price and left Croatia, "but that is their personal decision and they don't intend to come back to live in Sisak-Moslavina County," the Chamber said, adding that "the price was low due to urgency, not because someone wanted to make additional gain from already affected people."

The Chamber said such sales could not be banned.

ZAGREB, 14 January 2021 - Petrinja Mayor Darinko Dumbović said on Thursday that earthquake-hit areas did not need volunteers any more but a functioning system and expert teams to inspect damaged buildings.

"Structural engineers have conducted part of that task and I thank everyone who volunteered. Now we do not need volunteers in that regard but people who will be given that job, who will be paid and who will have set deadlines," said Dumbović after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Petrinja earlier in the morning.

According to Dumbović, so far just over 6,000 of 13,000 buildings have been inspected. 

He said that professionals are needed and a system that has to function and for professionals to be paid. "When you pay someone they are bound by a deadline, but if we run late now, then everything will be late."

Dumbović believes that business premises are important because they are "the key to everything that will keep the city alive."

He said that the money the city had received from the state was being spent on elementary needs such as delivering building material to repair chimneys, adding that buildings that could be repaired quickly would have a priority.

ZAGREB, 14 January 2021 - Germany, France and Austria have sent Croatia additional assistance following a magnitude 6.2 earthquake on 29 December, including sleeping bags, housing containers, lighting systems and mattresses, the European Commission said on Thursday.

They "are on their way to Croatia or will be in the coming days," the Commission noted, adding that "Slovenia delivered supplementary housing containers to Croatia on 11 January."

The same day of the devastating tremor in the Petrinja, Glina and Sisak area, Croatia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, requesting winter tents for six to eight persons, lamps, light towers, electrical heaters, folding beds, sleeping bags and housing containers.

Most of the assistance arrived within 24 hours.

"Once more, I would like to thank all EU Member States for their prompt response to the earthquake. The overwhelming response of 15 EU Member States and 1 Participating State helping the Croatian people in times of need is a tangible example of EU solidarity," said Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič.

He visited Zagreb and the area affected two days after the quake.