ZAGREB, 16 January, 2021 - The deputy head of the task force dealing with the aftermath of the 29 December earthquake, Deputy Prime Minister Boris Milošević, said on Saturday the people affected should not worry about heating bills but use heaters and not stay in the cold.
Speaking to the press in Petrinja, he said "it was never in question to relieve people as much as possible so they don't think about heating bills. We are aware that people here primarily use wood for heating, which they can't do in mobile homes and containers."
Milošević said the Red Cross had distributed more than 2,200 heaters. "That's the only way they can be warm and that's why we are working towards relieving them of that kind of cost."
He said everyone who needed a heater should contact the Red Cross or the other humanitarian organisations active in the area.
Asked about a decision to write off energy bills foe the people in earthquake-hit areas, Milošević said the government was expected to adopt a conclusion to that end on Monday. "It certainly applies to heating costs. As for water, local utilities are in charge. We'll talk about it."
The government's spokesman Marko Milić told Hina last night that on Monday the government would adopt a conclusion regarding the write-off of electricity bills in the earthquake-hit areas.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković informed Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Ivo Žinić about it, he said, recalling that Žinić advocated such a decision to help the citizens affected by the devastating earthquake.
Housing container situation better and better
Regarding housing containers in the quake-hit parts of Sisak-Moslavina County, he said it was better by the day, with more than 500 provided so far. "Our goal is to ensure 1,500 containers by the end of the month, which we believe will be enough."
Milošević said attempts would be made to provide housing containers for people currently staying in caravans "which, in conditions of snow, ice and low temperatures, are inadequate for a longer period of time."
He said 45,000 buildings had been reported as damaged in the magnitude 6.2 tremor and that structural engineers had inspected about 20,000.
He announced that on Wednesday parliament would debate a bill on the reconstruction of buildings damaged in the quake, saying he was confident amendments would help to improve the text.
"The government will endorse all constructive and good proposals because the situation in Banija is above politics. We must all look at it that way," said Milošević.
