17.05.2014.

Partial evacuation of villages near Sabac

At the meeting of the City Emergency Response Team in Sabac, managed by the Serbian CHOD General Ljubisa Dikovic, it was decided that, despite the fact that the water level of the Sava River began to stagnate, a partial evacuation of the villages of Drenovc, Tabanovic, Sevarice , Pricinovic, part of Majur , Misar, Oracac, Mrdjenovac, Provo and Miokus is organised.

- Despite the continuous work of hundreds of members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Gendarmerie, with tens of thousands of volunteers, to strengthen 20 kilometre-wide embankment along the coast of Sava in Sabac and the vicinity, it was decided to organize a preventive evacuation of several villages near Sabac. We cannot afford to repeat Obrenovac or Baric situation. People have understanding for our decision, they have confidence in us and we will return it to them in the right way. We received a clear order from the prime minister to defend Sabac and we will do it. The embankment is likely to be broken in some places, but Sabac will not be threatened, Minister Bratislav Gasic promised late tonight.

Members of the Serbian Armed Forces have been engaged also today in assisting the citizens of Serbia in the flooded areas. Last night and today the members of the Serbian Armed Forces were engaged in Sabac, Obrenovac, Ub, Trnava, Razanj, Doljevac, Aleksinac, Grocka, Lazarevac, Pojate, Kosjeric, Loznica, Svilajnac, Trstenik, Kraljevo, Kucevo, Malo Crnice ...

Today, according to data presented at the meeting of the Emergency Response Team, held at 18 hours, more than 1,300 members of the Serbian Armed Forces were employed.

Since this morning there have been six helicopters of Serbian Armed Forces in the air, by which 1187 people were evacuated from Obrenovac and medical help has also been transported. On their return to Obrenovac, for further evacuation, military helicopters are transporting food and water to the affected citizens.

For the purpose of evacuating the vulnerable population from Obrenovac and delivering food and water, members of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Serbian Armed Forces today, have conducted more than 70 take-offs. More than 11,000 liters of drinking water and more than 1000 meals were delivered. Evacuation by air continues and people are being evacuated to "Milan Tepic" barracks in Jakovo.

A large number of military boats, motor vehicles, wheeled water tanks with drinking water and engineering machinery are constantly on the ground, and the army provided also beds, blankets and other equipment for the most vulnerable population.

Sabac is defended from the swollen Save River by more than 200 cadets of the Military Academy and 200 soldiers on voluntary military service. In Svilajnac, until the morning, members of the Special Brigade took part in the evacuation and assistance to the residents of this municipality.