12.03.2016.

Serbian Armed Forces assists flood relief efforts in Cacak

Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, together with Acting Commander of the 2nd Army Brigade Colonel Zeljko Kuzmanovic, has visited today the most affected areas in Cacak and Lucani and units engaged in eliminating the consequences of the effusion of the Western Morava River and local rivers.

Due to heavy rainfall the previous day, and effusion of the Cemernica River in the village of Konjevici and the surrounding area, since 7th March, the members of the 2nd Brigade from Kraljevo have been engaged in Cacak, where they are still working on raising bulwarks and protective walls. Pointing out that the members of the Serbian Armed Forces have been engaged for several days in the most critical areas protecting the local population and eliminating the consequences of floods, Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic said that giving assistance to the population is not an ordinary task.

- For all of us this is an important task, primarily because of the extraordinarily difficult situation which the population of Western Serbia, as well as other parts of our country encountered. The army will do whatever it takes to eliminate the damage caused by the floods, reinforce bulwarks and prevent any serious consequences. Units of the 2nd Army Brigade, mainly from Kraljevo and Pozega, are engaged in the most critical areas in Cacak and Lucani, but the Serbian Armed Forces is present also in other affected areas. What we need is a timely request of the local self-government for our further engagement and cooperation of all subjects involved in this emergency situation, General Draganic said after visiting places where members of the 2nd Army Brigade participate in eliminating the consequences of floods.

Assessing that members of the Serbian Armed Forces in Kraljevo, just by their presence in the most affected areas, and also the work to secure the walls, make a significant contribution to increasing optimism of the local population, the Acting Commander of the 2nd Brigade, Colonel Kuzmanovic said:

- The Cemernica River by spilling out earlier this week caused extensive damage in the village of Konjevici and the surrounding area. Therefore, part of the units of the 2nd Army Brigade has been engaged in this area since 7th March, constantly working on eliminating the tragic consequences. More than 50, 000 bags were filled with sand and spread out over the walls in a length of about two kilometres. Height of the bulwarks has been raised by that by about 40 centimetres, Colonel Kuzmanovic said.

Members of the Serbian Armed Forces today have been engaged in other areas affected by the floods. Apart from Cacak, they are located in Lucani, Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska, Arilje, Kosjeric, Kragujevac and Bajina Basta. Upon the request of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, additional forces of the Serbian Armed Forces were sent this morning to Nis, Pirot, Bor and Zajecar, where engineering machinery and motor vehicles will also be engaged.

Members of the Serbian Armed Forces who are present in municipal crisis staffs, together with colleagues from other institutions continuously monitor the situation on the ground and coordinate the engagement of the military.