06.06.2014.

Reception of the evacuees in Obrenovac barracks

In the "Bora Markovic" barracks today, at about eleven o'clock, receiving of Obrenovac citizens who were placed in the Belgrade centres due to the floods, has began.

Major Nicholas Misailovic, the barracks Commander, said that the Serbian Armed Forces in the recent days, in coordination with the municipal authorities, the Red Cross and the Centre for Social Work of the City of Obrenovac worked intensively on the preparation of the premises.

- In parallel with the sanation, cleaning and disinfection of the city we have been working intensively on preparing facilities and the area within the barracks for receiving evacuees whose arrival is scheduled for today, Major Misailovic said, adding that in the course of the day they expect 192 persons, and that all of them will be provided with basic hygiene. He stressed that the facilities are provided with technical water, which is intended for hygiene, while drinking water is in the tankers.

-In the "Bora Markovic" barracks there is another facility provided, which is arranged and ready to accommodate other groups of evacuees. These are brick buildings, not wooden barracks. Our goal is to return to these people faith and hope, because we are aware of the fact that they lost a lot, Commander of the barracks said, and recalled that the army, as always, stands by its people.

The "Bora Markovic" barracks in Obrenovac do not accommodate the military since 2007, when it was placed under the Master Plan of the Ministry of Defence. Given the short timeframe, the Armed Forces gave its maximum to allow the displaced Obrenovac citizens for the basic living conditions.

Obrenovac slowly begins to take on the contours of the city as it was before the May floods, and the credit for this are going to the members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces. 1,000 of them have been engaged day and night for four days and with all their available resources, clearing the streets, helping citizens to return the life back to normal as soon as possible.

Since the last night, another field hospital stationed across the sports and cultural centre is ready to help those in need. Residents of Obrenovac have at their disposal a surgeon, specialist in internal medicine and a specialist in psychiatry.

- We'll be here as long as needed for taking care of people who are coming back to town. The hospital is equipped to provide the first aid, and for the Role 3 medical care we refer them to the MMA where they will be given further medical assistance, Major Nenad Novakovic, a neurosurgeon, said.

His colleague, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Dubravka Kolundzic, a psychiatrist, can be contacted by citizens of Obrenovac who could hardly bear this difficult situation and cannot overcome the problems alone. She pointed out that in these situations there are many of the psychotraumatized persons and that medical care is available to everyone.

As of today, several shops are operating in the town, and the Damage Commission will be working at Vojvoda Misic St. and Vuk Karadzic St.

Statements of residents and soldiers

Stevanovic Gordana, resident from Rvati village near Obrenovac, where the army today has been working most intensively on clearing rubbish and bulky furniture, as well as disinfection of the field, has nothing but praise for the military.

- I wish to thank the members of the 126th Early Warning Brigade who have been engaged today in cleaning up my house, but also to those who helped us in the night of flooding, says Gordana who took with her spouse Radoslav only two dogs sunder the onslaught of water floods.

- We are engaged in Obrenovac to help people to clear up things, of which the largest part is completely destroyed, said Staff Sergeant Predrag Vlacic, one of 35 members of the 126th Early Warning Brigade engaged in Obrenovac. He pointed out that all the soldiers give their maximum to help people affected by the disaster. Also, at the time of the flood members of the unit were engaged in Sabac, Drenovac and Morovic.

Staff Sergeant Vladimir Maras from 246th CBRN Battalion has been engaged in Obrenovac since 22 May on cleaning-up and will be there as long as needed.

- There are currently seven tanks conducting sanitation of the streets in the city. We are cleaning them using sodium hypochlorite, which is mild, so it is not dangerous to human health, Maras said.

Review of the daily engagement

During the day about 1,000 members of the Serbian Armed Forces were engaged in Obrenovac. More than 1,100 tons of bulky waste were taken away from the town and the work will be continued during the night. 17 tanks were employed to drain sewage waste. In the military field hospitals about 100 patients were examined.