January 1, 2021 - What a start to the New Year for one Petrinja family. A new child and a pledge of a new house, and 2021 is just 13 hours old.
Will 2021 bring more happiness and less tragedy than the horror show that was 2020?
If you are looking for that hope, and a light of positivity in the disaster of the recent earthquakes in Croatia, raise a glass to the Safic family from Petrinja, whose world was turned upside down three days ago, and which has been turned back in the right direction in the first 13 hours of 2021.
As reported earlier today, little Daris Safic was born just 15 seconds into the New Year, in Sisak hospital, in a part which had not been damaged by the recent earthquake. Daris' family are from Petrinja, and their house was destroyed in the December 29 quake, and the family had been sleeping in their car until the birth, a horrible situation.
The story has understandably received widespread media coverage, and the response has been swift, with a phone call from the island of Brac, from the Mayor of Supetar, Ivana Markovic, bringing the second piece of joyous news of the new year. Ivanka Toma of Jutarnji List takes up the story.
The family of the first baby born in 2021 cheered the call from Brač: ‘We will build you a new house!’
We immediately accepted her offer. Thank you very much, the father of little Daris Safić told Jutarnji.
The first baby born in 2021 in the maternity hospital in Sisak, little Daris Safić, is doing well, as is his mother who slept in a car until the birth because their house in Petrinja was destroyed in a catastrophic earthquake.
- They are both good, but the problem is that now I have to go where the caravans are shared and see if I can get any accommodation. I have to tell someone what the situation is and ask them to bring me a caravan. The hospital said they would try to leave their wife and child another night, but could not guarantee. It is possible that he will have to release her tonight, and I don't know where we will go - said Ferid Safić, the father of this year's first baby, who, in addition to the newborn, an older child and his wife, also takes care of his old and sick mother.
In addition to the child, the mayor of Supetar, Ivana Markovic, also made him happy on New Year's morning.
- The mayor of Supetar called. The lady said that she was informed that a New Year's baby was born who had nowhere to go because our house was demolished in an earthquake and said that she would come with the designers and build us a house - says Safić, who is grateful to the mayor.
- We accepted her offer immediately. Thank you very much - said the father of little Daris and constantly notes that the most important thing is that everyone is alive and well. Knowing that his housing issue will be resolved is a great relief in this difficult situation in which, as he says, everyone helps each other as much as they can.
- Two days ago, I decided that it would be best for the city of Supetar to renovate someone's house. And when I saw that the newborn was left homeless, that the mother slept in the car until the birth, I decided to call them - said Supetar Mayor Ivana Markovic, adding that she was called by a lot of neighbors who want to help.
- I contacted designers and surveyors who will inspect the family house from Petrinja for free and make projects for them. I was also contacted by craftsmen from Supetar, potters and other masters who want to participate - said Mayor Markovic, adding that she will open a special account of the City of Supetar where donations for the renovation of the family house from Petrinja can be paid.
- I think this is the best model for providing assistance. People can see exactly where they invested the funds and how they helped - she said, adding that she also contacted the Supetar firefighters with whom they will go to Petrinja as soon as they can.
- As far as I am concerned, we can leave immediately tomorrow - said Markovic.
As soon as the account details are published, TCN will add them to this article.
For more on the Petrinja earthquake, follow our dedicated section.
