Anniversary of SNV's "Banija is our House" Humanitarian Campaign Marked

ZAGREB, 31 December, 2021 - The Serb National Council (SNV), with the help of donors from Italy, on Thursday delivered timber to three families in Luščani near Petrinja, where a year ago the humanitarian campaign "Banija is our House" was launched.

In the yard of one of the families still struggling with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, MP and SNV President Milorad Pupovac said that "a new cycle of humanitarian aid is starting today, also in close cooperation and coordination with the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Eparchy of Gornji Karlovac and the Metropolitanate of Zagreb, and with the blessing and support of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije".

The timber the SNV delivered to the Vranjanin family is necessary for the construction of the first farm building that family will build with the help of the state and other people. According to Pupovac, "the government is expected to do what is necessary, that when a house is planned, a farm building is planned at the same time".

Pupovac stressed that these people needed to resume their farm activities, to have somewhere to put their cattle, cows, sheep, pigs, poultry, because that gave them back the possibility of self-sustainability. He added that he expected the government to "Listen to everyone who knows what is needed here".

He noted that the earthquake was a tragedy that provided an opportunity to do what hadn't been done for decades in that area. "And we are obliged to use that opportunity because of all these people and these areas and the potential they have, and now they stand unused like these demolished buildings," Pupovac said.

He stressed he didn't want to join those who parasitise on the insufficient activity of those in the government who need to address what is being blocked.

Pupovac said he did not want to hear that the stalemate in post-reconstruction was due to a dispute between developers and architects, adding that if that were the case, he would look for another solution.

If I could not find it, he said, I would go to the prime minister and ask him to find someone else for the job.

Saša Umićević, the Serb Orthodox parish priest in Petrinja who constantly visits the areas devastated in the earthquake, said agricultural buildings were the most important to keep young people from leaving.

Cooperating for a year, he said, the Serb Orthodox Church and the SNV have been doing their best and will continue to do so, so that people can have a roof over their heads.

The SNV's "Banija is our house" drive began a year ago in Luščani, with numerous donors from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia delivering aid.

During the drive, HRK 2.143 million has been raised by citizens, legal entities and Serb institutions, which the SNV has used to procure 39 container homes and construction material.

As part of the drive, HRK 4.7 million worth of material has been donated, with 125 containers homes provided, including 86 donated by the Serbian Orthodox Church and 25 by the Serbian Embassy.

The Novi Sad Fund for Refugees and Displaced Persons and for Cooperation with Serbs in the Region has donated HRK 376,500 worth of construction material.