16.05.2014.
Over 1,000 Serbian Armed Forces members in the affected areas
Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, who has been participating in the rescue of the affected population in Obrenovac all the morning, said that more than 1,000 members of the Serbian Armed Forces are currently engaged in that Belgrade municipality, but also in other flooded parts of Serbia.
"At this moment, more than 1,000 of the Armed Forces members are on the ground, not to mention combat and motorized equipment'', Defence Minister Gasic told reporters in Obrenovac.According to him, in some parts of Obrenovac water is slowly receding and pumps for pumping water have been sent there and they will later be sent to Sabac, where the situation is expected to worsen in the afternoon.
Minister Gasic added that all SAF boats are engaged in rescue of the affected population pointing out that the situation is so grave that a boat which this morning rescued a family was torn on a yard fence which could not be spotted by the rescuers as the water levels were extremely high.
"The problem here is that we do not have the locals to point us to the villages where people may be seeking assistance", Gasic said.
He added that there is no more problem with the locals who would avoid assisting.
''Everyone is seeking assistance right now. It is based on the appeal of yesterday, to let the houses go, as human lives are immeasurable. Material side must not be priority'', Gasic said, adding that trucks with drinking water, food and clothes are on the road to Obrenovac as well
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