ZAGREB, 9 January, 2021 - The Civil Protection Authority on Friday launched the website https://potresinfo.gov.hr containing all information about efforts to deal with the aftermath of the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that hit Sisak-Moslavina County and parts of Karlovac and Zagreb Counties on 29 December.

The website provides information about organised collective accommodation and how citizens from the quake-affected areas can get temporary shelter if their properties are destroyed or damaged.

Also information on donations of food and other necessities as well as about fodder is available.

Furthermore, the website informs about mobile teams providing psychological assistance, among other things.

It gives an overview of activities of the government and services to mitigate the aftermath of the devastating quake that took seven lives and caused huge damage.

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

January 9, 2021 – The area affected by the devastating earthquake of 29 December 2020 is mostly rural. People there live off the land. They employ others at family farms and as small scale producers. Ordering from a Petrinja OPG or one from the surroundings directly helps families and the economy of the earthquake-affected area, so here's a list detailing them

Alongside the outpourings of sympathy and promise of prayers, since the large earthquakes of December 2020 struck Sisak-Moslavina County, Total Croatia News has been inundated with requests from regular readers and other asking how they can directly and effectively help. TCN has tried to answer all enquiries the best we can and has striven towards directing donors to the best-placed outlets.

Certainly, the rebuild of the communities and economies in places like Petrinja, Glina, Sisak and hundreds of surrounding villages, hamlets and settlements will take months, even years. As TCN discovered after we visited the affected region one day after the earthquake, this area is predominantly rural. People here live off the land, from agricultural endeavours. Small producers and family farms make up much of the economy. In a year where such producers have been hard hit by travel restrictions and other aspects of the pandemic, the livelihoods of many have been shattered by the subsequent earthquake.

In a pro-active, helpful and exhaustive piece of data collection, writer Antonia Dobrota and the team at Croatian-language tourism portal cimerfraj have over recent days come up with an inspired suggestion of how [people can directly help the economies and people of the affected region. They have published a list of as many small producers, family farms and Petrinja OPG producers, plus those in surrounding areas.

By ordering food, produce and goods like pottery from this list, people can spend their money directly within the economies of the affected area – no suspicion, no doubt, no middlemen, no staffing costs deducted. It is an inspired decision to construct (and continually update) such a list. Bravo, Antonia and cimerfraj! Several Croatian-language media outlets have since republished the list. Total Croatia News is pleased to do so in English. We warmly encourage its use, not only now, but in the months that follow.

Being small producers and family farms, most of the producers below are not only vital to others in the local communities (by offering employment opportunities), their goods are almost exclusively organic and produced in a traditional, eco-friendly manner. Any orders should be submitted with the utmost confidence.

(OPG is a designation in Croatia that is given specifically to family farms and small, community producers)

OPG Mladen Tonković
Gornji Vidusevac 2a, Glina
095 8069 822
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: hazelnuts

OPG Predrag Đurđević
Stjepana Radića 168, Petrinja OPG
091 5853 717
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Products: honey, bee products

OPG Vicencinović Hergouth
Stari put 28, Gornja Gračenica
098 9817 696 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: liqueurs, fruit brandies

OPG Naglić
Kompator 34, Velika Ludina
091 5437 949
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Products: organic fruit

OPG Pčelarstvo Crneković
Kornatska 20, Sisak
091 8913 248
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Products: honey, bee products

OPG Tomislav Marcinek
Mate Vezmara 25, Voloder
098 9043 165
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Products: sheep, chicken and rabbit breeding

Family farm Zeljko Perkovic
Timarci 117, Sunja
091 5887 753
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Products: sheep

OPG Oljačić
Dragutina Benka 12, Petrinja OPG
098 1861 397
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Products: seasonal fruits and vegetables

OPG Horžić
Vladimira Nazora 26, Sunja
099 4600 210
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Products: meat and eggs

OPG Abramović
Franje Zuzeka 17, Glina
098 638 455
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Products: mulch, honey and beekeeping products

OPG Leci
Tadije Smičiklasa 34, Petrinja OPG
091 1502 732
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Products: chokeberry / ariona berry and fruit jams, chokeberry / ariona berry juice

OPG Mikliš
Desno Trabarjevo 39, Martinska Ves
098 615 011
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Products: chickens, ducks, turkeys, chickens, eggs

OPG Ivanković
Martinska Ves 124, Martinska Ves
095 3992 217
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Products: hazelnut, beans, orange sweet potato

OPG Ćordaš
Donji Klasnic 111, Glina
091 8843 182
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Products: teas, jams, chokeberry / ariona berry products

OPG Marčinko
Dražena Petrovića 18/2, Petrinja OPG
099 7235 037
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Products: chokeberry / ariona berry, various types of honey and juices, eco buckwheat flour

Family farm Jure Kolarić
Bobovac 321, Sunja
095 8158 505
Mini cheese factory
Products: Mini cheese factory

OPG Džakula
Sjeverovac 23, Sunja
091 2048 169
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: veal, pork, fresh meat and cured meat products

Pottery is a traditional craft in the area of Petrinja © TZ Petrinja

Pottery Matej Stanešić
Ljudevita Gaja 30, Petrinja OPG
044 816 308
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pottery Val
Slavko Kolar 2, Petrinja OPG
0912340 060
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Cacti Beslic
Zagrebacka 185, Duzica
044 752 273
Products: cacti, succulents, aloe, carnivorous plants

Vrtlarija Gadžić
Stjepana Radića 324, Petrinja OPG
099 4040 992
gardener-gadzic
Products: flower and vegetable seedlings, perennials, roses, ornamental and spice plants

Eko-Pčela & OPG Rožić
Slatina 86, Petrinja OPG
098 1727 187
Products: organic honey, grain, rye, buckwheat, oats, fruit seedlings

Beekeeping Priljeva
Mije Srnaka 40, Petrinja OPG
098 9748 434
honey and beekeeping products

OPG Jela Grubišić
9 Gromova Street, Petrinja OPG
098 9454 211
Products: chickens, eggs

OPG Josipa Gadžić
Franza Wagnera 92, Petrinja OPG
098 9454 211
Products: flower and vegetable seedlings

OPG Polimac
Gornja Mlinoga 44
044 823 117/098 1373 107
Products: lambs and sheep

OPG Bunjan Dalibor
Sisačka 50 a, Petrinja OPG
099 2540 815
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Products: seasonal fruits and vegetables

OPG Champignon
Đurđica Bočina, Žabno 16, Sisak
099 8196 665
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Products: different types of mushrooms

OPG Trsoglavec Štefica
Sibic
098 286 558
Products: cheese, cream, butter and other dairy products

OPG Radošević Marijana
Stromarova 9, Petrinja OPG
099 2557 140
Products: honey and bee products

OPG Dario Paropatić
091 5723 320
Livestock breeding, buying and selling

OPG Paropatić Dejan
099 6597 155
Buying and selling live cattle

OPG Dvorneković
Milana Makanca 25, Petrinja OPG
091 1814 368
Products: blackberry wine, red currant wine, honey, propolis and fruit liqueurs

OPG Šipuš
Preloscica 92, Sisak
097 6674 912  
Products: dairy products, cheeses of different flavors

OPG Vuletić Željka
Gornja Mlinoga 39, Petrinja OPG
098 1847 750
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Products: jams, marmalades and juices from pumpkin, chokeberry / ariona berry and other fruits

OPG Priljeva Stojan
Donje Seliste, Glina
044 880 353/099 7403 650
Products: cheese and dairy products

OPG Lovro Lenac
A. Tomulića 10, Hrvatska Kostajnica
099 5127 643
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Products: pumpkin and chestnut

OPG Tamara Sekereš
Osekovo
091 7914 230
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Production: Beekeeping. 8 different types of honey, honey mixtures, propolis, delivery for Zagreb

OPG Ivica Vancas
Nebojan 134, Petrinja OPG
044 751 034/099 8048 076
Production: cereals (except rice), legumes and rapeseed oil

OPG Finka and Zdravko Oršulić
Matije Antolca 141, Petrinja OPG
095 9033 084/095 5863 284
Products: vegetable and flower seedlings, flowers and herbs

Family farm Snježana Oršulić
135 Gromova Street, Petrinja OPG
095 9074 512
Production: flower and vegetable seedlings

OPG Kata Čiča
Donji Viduševac, Glina
098 9945 323
Products: eco hazelnuts and free-range eggs

Family farm Slavica Jurić
Donja Budicina 22, Petrinja OPG
091 7220 520
Products: free-range eggs

OPG Mladen Bjelac
Ive Maline 84, Petrinja OPG
098 601 191
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: hazelnuts

OPG Stevo Zec
Hrvatska Kostajnica
091 7267 749
Products: honey

OPG Novakovic Milan
Gornji Bjelovac 15, Donji Kukuruzari
044 856 073
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Products: home-made sausages and bacon, pork fat

OPG Nikola Petković
Kralja Tomislava 73, Glina
091 7691 460
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Products: blackberry wine, blackberry liqueurs, raspberries, cherries, walnuts, rakija, jams, rural tourism

OPG Petrinjčica Davor Lugomer
Luščani 115
091 4000 407
Borovnice Petrinjčica
Products: blueberry cultivation from 15.6 to 10.8

OPG Križić
Matije Antolca 1, Petrinja OPG
095 3924 280
Products: vegetables and bee products

OPG Marica Rožić
Vratečko 23, Petrinja OPG
091 6141 708
Products: livestock (cows, horses, chickens), milk production

OPG Naglić Kristina
Hrvatskog proljeća 30, Glina
099 2309 051
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Products: lambs, wine, brandy, liqueurs and Christmas trees

OPG Nikola Navijalić
Kralja Tomislava 1 branch 5, Moscenica
098 9729 671
Products: strawberries, vegetables, honey

OPG Miroslava Jović
Brezovo Polje 38, Glina
099 8299 458
Products: veal

OPG Josip Petrović
Brezovo Polje 95, Glina
099 2153 129
Products: pork, lamb, calves and young goats

OPG Dragan Jović
Brezovo Polje 95, Glina
099 2153 129
Production: calves

OPG Marijan Glušić
Antuna Mihanovića 1a, Petrinja OPG
095 9099 305/091 5251 497
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Products: apples and apple juice

OPG Josip Starešinović
Strašnik 109, Petrinja OPG
099 8759 237
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Products: milk, cheeses

OPG Milić Perica
Volinja 3, Dvor
099 5904996 / 098 779 214
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Products: free-range eggs, beef, composting, potatoes

OPG Vesna Antunović
Don Ante Lizatovica 5, Donji Kukuruzari
098 1902 554
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Products: honey, bee products

Family farm Vladimir Vujčić
Velika Gradusa 63, Sunja
091 7231 393
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Products: lambs

Family farm Vesna Pranjic - Marincic Winery
Frankopanska 18, Sisak
(new address: Jazvenik 8e, Sela)
0917315678/0915892346
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: wine, viticulture and winemaking

OPG Anita Zrnić
Bestrma 116, Sunja
098 1829 823
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: lamb, young goats

DVORSKA KOŠARICA – association of OPGs
091 9299 888
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

OPG Zoran Simić
Donji Javoranj 38 Dvor
Products: breeder of indigenous, protected breeds of pigs, sheep, goats and donkeys - live animals, meat and meat products - sausages, lard, čvarci (fried pork rind – pork scratchings), bacon

OPG Milko Nišević Kepčije
Products: smoked and fresh cheeses, organic breeding of calves, heifer cows, sheep and lambs

OPG Angela and Štefan Abramović
Products: pumpkin oil, flour, seeds, goat cheese, yogurt, fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables

OPG Milan Janković
Uncani 75, Dvor
0996585104
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: flaxseed (linseed) oil, pumpkin oil, pumpkin protein, flax seeds

OPG Kokin dom
Petrinja OPG
095 7972 064
Production: chickens

OPG Blaženko Anđić
Tomislava Ivkaneca 8a, Petrinja OPG
Products: honey and bee products, chokeberry / ariona berry products

OPG Jelić Ivka
Gajeva, Petrinja OPG
Available in online shop Zelena Kuca
Products: Collective of small producers of domestic and ecological products from Petrinja and its surroundings

Family farm Dijana Vukovic
Novi Farkasic 48
099 2862 510
Products: pumpkin oil

OPG "Majčina dušica" Nada Tanković
Petrinja OPG
091 7346 973
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: spices, herbs and medicinal herbs, berries (currants, raspberries, blackberries)

OPG Barišić Ivan
Mececani, Donji Kukuruzari
091 6460 664
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Products: vegetables, fruits, conserved fruits and vegetables, sheep and beekeeping

OPG Mara Dejanović
Deanovići 12, Petrinja OPG
098 9424 409
Products: dairy products, meat products, eggs, onions and other vegetables, lambs, pigs, calves

OPG Josip Jurković
Desni Degoj 20, Glina
098 9830 900
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Products: eggs, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions

OPG Mira Cavic
Batinova Kosa 59, Topusko
099 7987 820
Products: free-range eggs, honey, potatoes, onions, lard, cleaned (plucked and butchered) chickens, geese and ducks, lambs

OPG Špiljar Nikola
Novi Farkasic 43, Petrinja OPG
098 9721 470
Products: cow-calf, sheep, pigs and horses

OPG Ivica Klobučar
Jurja Fratrovića 13, Glina
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: sheep breeding and free-range eggs

OPG Borojević
Trgovi, Dvor
091 9158 544
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Products: certified organic production and processing of hazelnuts (shelled hazelnuts, hazelnut oil, hazelnut flour, roasted hazelnuts) and buckwheat

OPG Severin Jurić
Lijevi Odvojak 33 A, Brest Pokupski
099 5053 160 / 098 551 324
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Product: hazelnuts

Cimerfraj add the following notes:

This list includes all small producers and family farms from the earthquake-affected settlements and the surrounding areas. At the time of compiling the list, we do not know whether these manufacturers are harmed or not, nor do we consider this important. We believe that synergy is necessary in order to initiate the balanced development of favorable existential opportunities for life in this area.

Due to some parts of the area currently being poorly covered by phone and internet signal, some of the manufacturers are easier to contact by text message, SMS or WhatsApp.

The list is still being updated. If you know of a domestic manufacturer from the affected area who is not currently included, please send all relevant details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

January 7, 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 couple of 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.

Report from January 8

Daily activities

Today, we have managed to deliver 6 housing containers to the families in need. Many of them had children who still slept in houses that were dangerous and in cars. 

The four-member family Đelalija will unfortunately lose their house, which is too badly damaged. But, because of the help of our members and donors, the family will no longer have to sleep in the car.

The Augustinović family has two children, and the third is on the way. They are grateful that they will no longer have to sleep in an unsafe house.

The Bunčić family house also received a red sticker, which means that they can’t live there anymore. Donation of a housing container means a lot to them and guarantees at least a little security in these difficult times.

The Lovrinčić family of four says: "Thanks to the wonderful people who sent us this housing container so that we don't have to be in a house that has collapsed inside and is not safe to live in, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!" 

Families Božić and Jurković have also received housing containers later this day. For them, this means calmer nights in safety. 

Plans for today

This weekend we will coordinate with our volunteers in the field, so next week we can deliver more housing containers. We expect the delivery of at least two more containers for families in Sisak-Moslavina county on Monday.  

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, 7 January 2021 - The requirements for the temporary accommodation of people from earthquake-hit areas are expected to be met in the next few weeks, Economy Minister Tomislav Coric said on Thursday after meeting with domestic container home manufacturers.

The idea is to meet all the requirements with domestic containers, some imported, and to procure mobile homes, he told the press, adding that between 1,000 and 1,500 temporary accommodation units were necessary.

Since the construction of lasting buildings can begin only when weather conditions allow and the whole process will take time, the state would rather buy than rent container homes, which will be owned by the state, Coric said.

Efforts are being made to expedite the delivery of temporary accommodation units as none are available in the wake of the Zagreb earthquake in March, last week's tremor in the Banovina region and the pandemic, he said.

Larger deliveries are expected as of the middle of next week, when production will reach its peak, he added.

The government insists that temporary accommodation units be as equipped as possible, Coric said, adding that modular houses with maximum earthquake resistance were one of the solutions.

Tourism Minister Nikolina Brnjac said she would meet with hoteliers on Friday to see how much accommodation was still available, adding that to date the sector had donated 114 mobile homes.

Josip Mihalic, owner of Jedinstvo, which makes container homes, said his company would deliver 350 for the quake victims within 40 days, including 250 ordered by the government, and that 500 could be made in two months.

He said Jedinstvo already sent 250 container homes to the earthquake-hit Banija region which had been intended for export to Switzerland and Austria.

ZAGREB, 7 January 2021 - Deputy Prime Minister Tomo Medved, speaking in his capacity as head of the task force dealing with the aftermath of the 29 December earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County, said on Thursday that 155 container homes and 19 tents had been set up in the area to accommodate quake victims.

Since the formation of the task force, our response teams have carried out a number of activities on the ground. The Civil Protection Directorate has set up 155 container homes and 19 tents, supplied the emergency services with 32,000 litres of fuel, visited 95 communities and delivered humanitarian aid," Medved reported at a cabinet meeting.

He said that a series of meetings had been held with local government officials to analyse the situation, determine priorities and provide further aid in repairing the damage. About 600 firefighters and 200 firefighting vehicles have been deployed to the area to help with the search and rescue efforts, remove damaged chimneys, repair roofs, and secure devastated buildings, he added.

Medved said that the task force had set up a centre of operations covering the Civil Protection Directorate, the fire service, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS), the Croatian Red Cross (HCR), the military and the police, adding it was operating 24 hours a day.

A total of 262 HGSS personnel are at the scene with 61 vehicles, providing food, water, medicines, heaters and other necessities to remote villages and households, while the HCR is taking care of 725 people at eight locations, Medved said.

He said that preparations were being made for the receipt of 100 container homes from Turkey which were expected to arrive later today.

January 7, 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 6 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 couple of 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.

Report from January 6

Daily activities

Yesterday we bought 10 housing containers which will be donated to people from Petrinja, Glina and Sisak. Our volunteers and members of UGP are constantly taking care of people who are in need and whose houses were destroyed in the earthquake. We are trying our best to help as many people as possible, that is why we cooperate with local authorities and other organizations. It is very important to us that we help people who are truly in need. We would like to use this opportunity to thank all of the volunteers and everyone from our Association that is trying to help. Also, we would like to point out that yesterday we have contacted Minister Medved and suggested cooperation so we can all together renew the Sisak-Moslavina County. 

Plans for today

Today first housing containers are arriving to the families in need. We are very happy that we managed to send them in such a short time. Also, we are planning to deliver two more containers tomorrow and in the next week we are expecting to deliver at least 5 more housing containers. The companies that we are working with are giving their best to produce them as quickly as possible. 

The arrival of a container in Petrinja. 

Bank statement

Container purchases

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, 7 January 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday announced changes to regulations on the implementation of the General Tax Act which will exempt from VAT donations delivered to the areas affected by last week's earthquake.

"This is another important gesture, similar to the one we did at the time of measures which applied to the COVID-19 pandemic. These donations won't be burdened with either profit or income tax, they will represent tax breaks," Plenkovic said at a cabinet meeting.

At the end of last year, the Croatian Employers Association asked the government to stop charging taxes on donations for quake-hit areas, primarily VAT on the delivery of goods and services. Monetary donations are exempt from VAT but those in the form of goods and services are not.

A few days ago, the Voice of Entrepreneurs association asked the government to exempt from VAT the firms that have been unselfishly helping the people of Sisak-Moslavina County affected by the 29 December tremor.

ZAGREB, 7 January 2021 - Croatia's Seismological Survey registered an earthquake at 1206 hours Thursday measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale with the epicentre near Petrinja, 45 km southeast of Zagreb.

The intensity of the quake, whose epicentre was six kilometres southwest of Petrinja, was V degrees on the EMS scale, the service said on Thursday afternoon.

This is one more aftershock in the sequence of tremors that have happened in this Croatian region since the 29 December devastating quake, which measured 6.20 on the Richter scale and took seven lives.

On Wednesday evening, a magnitude 5.0 tremor rocked Petrinja.

ZAGREB, 7 January 2021 - The head of the Civil Protection Authority, Damir Trut, said on Thursday morning that Wednesday's quake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale had not done big damage to the area of Petrinja, and there had been no casualties.

Croatia's Seismological Survey registered an earthquake at 6.01 p.m. on Wednesday measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale with the epicentre near Petrinja, 45 km southeast of Zagreb. The tremor was felt in central Croatia, including in the capital.

Trut told the national radio (HR) on Thursday morning that fortunately when the last strong quake happened, it had been raining and cold which was why staff and forces engaged to repair roofs and chimneys had left buildings before the tremor.

Local residents are mainly in buildings that are more resilient to quakes and therefore there were no casualties and there was no considerable damage,Trut explained.

He added that the outdoor kitchen which had been set up in the centre of Petrinja after the 29 December quake to supply local residents with meals would be relocated to a new site.

Emergency services visited villages in a wider Petrinja area last night to calm down the population and provide them with necessities.

Tents with heaters were set up in the area concerned.

Trut said that all the settlements but one had been provided with electricity. The remaining one was connected to generator units powered by gas.

January the 7th, 2021 - The recent Petrinja earthquake rounded off an absolutely horrendous 2020 for Croatia which was dominated by a global pandemic. Investments in Sisak-Moslavina County, some of them very pressing, have now had keys placed in their locks.

As Vedran Marjanovic/Novac writes, the catastrophic Petrinja earthquake stopped investments in their very tracks in the affected areas of Sisak-Moslavina County. This includes those co-financed from European Union funds carrying a total value, according to local leaders, of close to one billion kuna.

One of the largest ongoing EU projects in the Banovina region is, for example, the improvement of the water and communal infrastructure of the Petrinja agglomeration which is co-financed by the European Union from the Cohesion Fund, worth 431 million kuna, and as the Minister of Economy and Environment Tomislav Coric stated that the Petrinja water supply system was damaged in the earthquake in about a hundred places, the question is whether Petrinja can request additional EU assistance to repair the damage to the agglomeration and complete the project?

Brussels isn't the right address

''The European Union, ie the European institutions based in Brussels, aren't a direct address to which the beneficiaries of EU funds in earthquake-affected areas can now turn in an attempt to gain financial assistance for the repairing of damage, nor are they the right doors to knock on to request assistance to complete such projects if they are not completed yet. The Croatian state, ie the bodies in the management and control systems of the European Structural and Investment Funds are the places to go. Such are the corresponding rules and procedures,'' said Ariana Vela, the director of the consulting company Avelant and the president of the Board of the EU Projects School. She noted that the rights and obligations of beneficiaries of EU funds in the event of force majeure, such as earthquakes, are regulated by grant agreements, although, in her view, not to a sufficient extent.

''Therefore, it would be best for the competent authorities, in cooperation with the beneficiaries, to first determine the damage caused to EU projects that are in progress and, if they have sufficient funds in their budgets, to finance the repair of the damage and bring those projects to their pre-earthquake condition, and the compensation of these funds in terms of sources of funding can be requested from the EU Solidarity Fund, in compliance with certain rules and meeting certain preconditions,'' she pointed out.

In the case of the Petrinja agglomeration, the project holder is the city utility company Privreda d.o.o. which, back in 2016, signed a contract with the Ministry of Agriculture and Croatian Waters, and was provided co-financing from the European Union worth 245 million kuna. The state participates in the project with 100 million kuna, Croatian Waters with 44 million kuna, and the rest is dealt with by the city utility company.

The Petrinja agglomeration project, which was supposed to renovate the water supply network in order to, among other things, reduce water losses in it and build a wastewater collection and treatment system, was set to be completed this year. According to available information, even if the Petrinja earthquake had not occurred, the big question is whether the Petrinja agglomeration project would be completed by the end of next year anyway.

Extra money

In any case, having in mind the propositions that Ariana Vela drew our attention to, the state and Croatian Waters will probably have to engage significant additional money in order to complete the Petrinja agglomeration project.

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