December 30, 2020 – After Dubrovnik, Split, Sibenik, and Zadar were the first to announce that they were canceling New Year’s programs and sending funds to Petrinja, a chain reaction started – about 20 cities announced the same or have already paid aid.
Dalmatinski Portal reports that the catastrophic earthquake that destroyed Petrinja yesterday and caused terrible damage in Glina and Sisak united and brought the whole country to its feet. Help is coming from all over Croatia, from firefighters and volunteers – and on Tuesday night alone, over 1,500 people arrived in the Petrinja area eager to help with food, clothes, blankets, and heaters.
Cities have also been mobilized to organize the collection of humanitarian aid and accommodation for families left homeless and send what is currently most important – the money needed to repair the damage and start reconstruction.
The mayors of four Dalmatian cities – Dubrovnik, Split, Sibenik, and Zadar – were the first to organize an emergency video meeting yesterday to cancel the planned New Year’s programs and immediately pay 150,000 kuna each to help Petrinja.
The same amount, 150 thousand kuna, will be donated by the City of Bakar and the Industrial Zone Bakar and Crikvenica.
Đakovo and Rijeka immediately decided and paid 200 thousand kuna each, and Osijek will donate 100 thousand kuna. The City of Trilj, Vodice, and the City of Metković also set aside 100,000 kuna each, and on Wednesday morning, they paid 70,000 to the City of Petrinja and 30,000 to Glina.
The City of Vinkovci will also allocate 100 thousand kuna to help Petrinja. It was also decided that city companies and institutions will help, delivering 250 packages with various supplies to the Red Cross. City employees also joined the action, giving up a part of their salary to help the victims and the aid packages collected so far.
The city of Kastav announced that it would help the earthquake-affected areas with 75,000 kuna, and Bjelovar and Donja Stubica with 50,000 each. The City of Zlatar will donate the same amount, 20 thousand kuna to Petrinja and 15 thousand kuna to Sisak and Glina.
The city of Požega will also help with 50 thousand kuna, and Mayor Darko Puljašić announced that HDZ city councilors would give up two councilor benefits in favor of the victims, which will also be donated.
The City of Trogir has decided to cancel the New Year’s fireworks and pay 70 thousand kuna to help Petrinja, Sisak, and Glina, and Valpovo, Supetar, and Vrbovec will do the same. Financial aid was also announced from the City of Bakar and Beli Manastir.
Istria County and Istrian towns will pay 200,000 kuna.
The largest amount so far, half a million kuna, has been set aside by the City of Samobor. Specifically, the city of Petrinja will be helped with 200 thousand kuna, and Sisak and Glina with 150 thousand kuna each, and the aid will be paid today.
“The citizens of Samobor, as well as the City Administration, are always ready to help, especially in such situations when we are all left without words. The disaster that struck Petrinja, Sisak, Glina, and the surrounding places require compassion and help from all of us. Samobor is with you!” the message reads.
The second-largest amount – 300 thousand kuna, comes from Opatija. Namely, as reported, the City of Opatija and the City Council of Opatija will jointly pay 300 thousand kuna to the Red Cross’s open account to help the victims of the devastating earthquake.
We believe and are sure that all other cities will join this action, at least in symbolic amounts. We hereby invite them to show solidarity and help those who were left without everything at the end of this terrible year.
Follow our live updates on the situation in Croatia’s earthquake-hit areas here; find out how you can donate here.
