23.05.2014.

General Dikovic - Sava was finally subdued

Serbian CHOD General Ljubisa Dikovic has visited today, with his associates and members of the Emergency Response Team of the City of Sabac the levee at Cevrntija district in that city.

On this occasion, General Dikovic reminded of the historical significance of this part of the country, pointing out that these people, who had the task of defending Macva from the disaster that threatened, won a victory.

- I believe that in that difficult battle which lasted eight days, we managed to contain the Sava River. The water level of the river, which has not been remembered ever since the records have been kept, culminating at 6.65 centimetres, is something unprecedented, an overwhelming power that rolled to Macva and Sabac and downstream towards Belgrade. It took time to contain it, to prevent leakage and breaking of the bulwarks, which were made in seventies, which could not withstand this level of water without reinforcements, all of which required superhuman efforts - General Dikovic said adding that in the 23 kilometres of the bulwarks there were more than a million sandbags built in, which required extremely hard work.

During the night between Sunday and Monday, as he pointed out, more than 800 people carried over thousands of bags while water and mud went up to their knees.

- Only organized fight can combat such evil or anything else, General Dikovic said expressing his gratitude to the citizens of Sabac for all they have done to defend us all. He also commended the efforts of members of the Team day and night in this very complex task.

- Superhuman efforts bore fruit, we won, protected human lives and protected property – General Dikovic concluded.

In the afternoon, there was a meeting of the Emergency Response Team, at which General Dikovic emphasized that the army and the police are slowly withdrawing, that the needs for rescue teams are reduced, and the needs for sanitation, disinfection and rodent control are increased, as well as the elimination of everything that would endanger human health.

- Members of the military will continue to engage in the regulation of roads, repairs of houses and buildings, as well as cleaning up of the area – General Dikovic said adding that the Team will still be managed by his deputy, Boban Birmancevic, because this city is still in emergency regime due to the risk of flooding of the Sava River.

The meeting was also attended by Russian Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Eduard Chizhikov, as well as representatives of the rescue teams of Russia, Belarus, Austria and France, to whom General Dikovic presented coins of the Serbian Armed Forces on behalf of the Emergency Response Team as a token of gratitude for their help in saving the affected population during floods.

- Human solidarity has passed the exam this time, and your presence is one of numerous proofs of that allegation – General Dikovic said.