04.11.2010.

Army continues to help Kraljevo

Only ten minutes after the first earthquake wave which hit Kraljevo and its surroundings in the night between 2nd and 3rd November, at 02:15, the commander of the Second Brigade of the Serbian Army, Brigadier General Dusan Stojanovic was on site in the barracks assessing the damage, and the members of the 2nd brigade continue to help the citizens of Kraljevo.

- Immediately after our arrival at the barracks, we saw that from a total of five facilities in the barracks "John Kursula in Jarcujak, two objects could no longer be used to accommodate people. The garrison clinic, where some 9300 members are medically treated, has been extensively damaged, so it is no longer in operation, said Gen. Stojanovic and added:

"From the beginning, we started cooperation with the municipal headquarters for emergency situations from which we received a request to hire trucks and tank trucks for transportation of construction materials. Vehicles were brought from Krusevac, so now we have nine trucks with water tanks on site together with two 10 ton capacity trucks. As early as yesterday, we sent soldiers and officers to help the most vulnerable population in the area. In Kraljevo, yesterday at13:00, emergency situation was declared, so now our capacities are at the city’s disposal".

In the garrison clinic, which can provide medical care to 9 300 military insurance holders, only rubble, broken glass, damaged walls, ceilings, floors could be seen ... The building has been declared non-functional and the object is slowly being emptied.

Dr. Ivan Jovanovic explained that during the night when the earthquake hit the region of Kraljevo there were several patients in a stationary treatment in the outpatient clinic.

-Four patients came to our the aid. It was necessary to make the clinic functional as soon as possible, to clean up rubble, clean the broken glass and shards. When we finished, the commission from the barracks arrived early in the morning and declared the facility non-functional . then we began to relocate the ambulance to the barracks Ribnica. It will take several days, but I can say that we are ready to continue providing assistance to all our policyholders.

In coordination with the Headquarters for Emergency Situations, the Second Brigade members are engaged on the rehabilitation of the consequences of earthquakes in the city and surrounding villages. The soldiers are assigned to teams on site to help with the clearing up of debris, restoring homes of citizens and delivering water to parts of the city left without water.

In the flat of Jovan Nikitovic, a retired sergeant major, the damage is extensive. The pylons are cracked and have collapsed. "The army soon came to the assistance. The damage is great and we could not repair the damage on our own. Loose mortar, tiles, bricks fell off, with the part of walls collapsing both in the yard. The army is helping to clear away the rubble, and after we'll see. "

The house of Živka Tomasevic Grdica from a settlements near Kraljevo, has also suffered serious damage. Chimneys have collapsed, there are cracked walls, the roof had fallen and all the roof tiles. "I live alone with a sick husband. If it were not for the army we would not be able to fix this. The damage is enormous, but the most important thing is that we are alive.

Snezana Djokovic, also from the village of Grdica, was sleeping when the earthquake shook Kraljevo. "My father woke me up and helped me to leave the house which is no longer suitable for living, so we are now accommodated in the summer kitchen. Fortunately the military has arrived on the first day after the earthquake offering help. There is work to be done on the roof, to clear the broken tiles, chimney fell off after the quake. In the house the walls are cracked, there are many fallen bricks, mortar, rubble ... We thank the army for helping us, if it weren’t for them we would never be able to fix the damage.

At the home of Olga Aleksic from Opranic damage was visible both inside and out. In addition to the roof, and the gable fell on the house, and most interior walls are cracked. "Both the chimney, almost all the walls and gable have fallen, the roof and tiles everything is destroyed. The damage is great. Neighbors, friends all came to help if it were not for the army making rounds and offering help, all this rubble would not be cleared. We are very grateful. I do not know what they train soldiers for, but when I see these young men working and I would like for my youngest grandson to become a professional soldier one day.
These are the words of the citizens of Kraljevo, Zivko, Jovan, Snezana and Olga. . The other Kraljevo citizens with whom we have discussed today are also grateful for the assistance the Army has offered and has proved once again that it is always there to help its people in need.