Županja, (IKA/TU) – A coordination meeting to provide information on the collection and distribution of aid and the planning of the overall rebuilding of the flooded areas in the territory of the Archdiocese of Đakovo-Osijek was held on Wednesday, May 28, in the Parish of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist in Županja. The meeting was attended by the archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek, Msgr. Đuro Hranić; the head of Caritas Croatia, Msgr. Fabijan Svalina; the head of the Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocesan Caritas, the Rev. Ivica Rebić; the heads of all the deanery branches of in the Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocese and pastors from the flooded areas: the Most Rev. Marko Mikić, the dean of the Drenovac Deanery and pastor in Podgajaca and Rajevo Selo; the Rev. Zoran Aladić, the pastor in Račinovci; and the Rev. Josip Semijalac, the pastor in Gunja.
During the working meeting, the relief efforts provided to date by Caritas were analyzed. The Rev. Rebić reported that since May 19, the following had been collected in the Caritas warehouses of the Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocese: 82 tons of clothing, 64 tons of food, 30 cubic meters of drinking water, 20 tons of hygiene supplies, large amounts of medications, bedding, mattresses, furniture, baby carriages and straw. The sum of 553,995.55 HKR has been deposited in the bank account of the Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocesan Caritas.
The deanery representatives spoke about the collection of donations and the situation in the warehouses. They were told to improve coordination with the Archdiocesan Caritas and take the shelf life of donated foods into account. Based on directives from the Archdiocesan Caritas, there was support for the planned routing of donations, as agreed upon with the pastors in the flooded areas, as well as sending aid to the Archdiocese of Sarajevo and the Republic of Serbia. Emphasis was placed on determining how to help the population from the flooded areas when they return and provide them with all the necessary infrastructure so they can rebuild their houses.
Conditions in the Parishes after the Floods
After hearing about the efforts of Caritas and numerous volunteers, the Most Rev. Marko Mikić, dean of the Drenovac Deanery, in which there are five flooded parishes, who is also the pastor of Rajevo Selo and Posavski Pogajaci, expressed his gratitude for everything that has been collected and joked: “On behalf of many, we have collected all the water of the Sava River, which makes the situation more difficult.” He pointed out that now it is not possible to receive donations in the afflicted parishes and distribution should be systematic, especially when people return. On Tuesday, May 27, for the first time Pastor Mikić was able to enter the parish church, where the water had reached 110 cm. He then told his parishioners that it would be good if they could celebrate Christmas in the church in Rajevo because there is extensive damage, from the underfloor heating system to the altar parament He reported that in Posavski Pogajci an inventory of the houses and flooded areas is being taken, as will also occur in Rajevo Selo when people return to their homes. Yesterday, also for the first time the pastor in Račinovci, the Rev. Aladić, entered his church in Račinovci, which had been flooded, The water level in the church was 40 cm and reached to the foot of the altar. The pastor said with astonishment that he found everything tossed about, pews shifted nearly a meter forward and pressed against the altar, chairs on the benches, swollen confessionals, moisture permeating the church walls and paint from the side altars starting to peel. The floor tiles were raised, the furniture in the sacristy was ruined, and much church inventory will have to be thrown out. In the village, septic tanks had overflowed and the odor was indescribable, reported the Rev. Aladić, noting that disinfection was being carried out in the church so that nothing could be removed. One problem is that the church is a cultural landmark, so even what could be done immediately cannot be done without consulting the Ministry of Culture and the Bureau of Restoration.
The pastor in Gunja, the Rev. Semialjac, stressed that attempts are being made to provide direct assistance to the people who have been evacuated. Cooperation with Caritas is good, people do not lack for anything, and he is in regular contact with the Archdiocesan Caritas, warehouses and centers for receiving people. He emphasized that for now no donations can be accepted in Gunja because people cannot go to their houses but the greatest help will be needed when they return. He pointed out the need for registering the evacuated with the Red Cross so that they will be recorded and evidence can be collected for assistance in obtaining donations and benefits when they return to their homes.
Conclusions of the Coordinating Meeting
The conclusions of the coordinating meeting were presented to the press by Archbishop Hranić, Msgr. Svalina and the Reverend Rebić. The Most Rev. Mikić spoke about the conditions in the flooded parishes. The archbishop repeated the words with which the pastors of the flooded parishes addressed their parishioners: “Rest assured, if everyone forgets you, the Church shall not forget you. (…) Through our institutions, parishes and priests, we will remain with the people until life becomes completely normal. We’ll leave it up to those who are ready to help to do the big things that are beyond us as the Church but we can help with the many little things of daily life, and we will do that,” he said and thanked everyone for their assistance as expressions of their solidarity. The archbishop said that efforts are being made to determine where the population of the flooded areas will go when they return, and where they will sleep, eat and live while their houses are being rebuilt, and efforts will be made to respond to their needs. He also announced that numerous volunteers have come from various sides, who are prepared to come and help people when they start working on their houses. The pastors of the flooded areas from the first day have been with their faithful, led Masses in parishes where evacuated people are being lodged, visited them and provided them with support, which they will continue to do when the people go back to their homes, he emphasized. Church counseling centers are also available, which provide psychological assistance and will also go out into the field and organize meetings for people who have been afflicted by the disaster. “We will keep track of the people in every parish community and, if necessary, on every street, and then organize adequate assistance for them,” said the archbishop.
“We are asking ourselves how to provide resources to help people rebuild and believe that coordination with state institutions is important. We are thinking about which tasks we will be able to take over, accept and fulfill. We cannot do everything but we can do one part and that we will do,” said Msgr. Svalina. Caritas Croatia has collected approximately 3 million HRK up to now. When the local people return to their homes, efforts will be coordinated with the authorized bodies of the Republic of Croatia and that money will be distributed for the efforts in which Caritas Croatia will be involved. “We shall see what the government will do, rebuilding houses has been announced, and we shall become involved according what we agree upon with them. We’ll see whether this will be the purchase of furniture, appliances or something else when the time comes,” said the Rev. Rebić, emphasizing that disadvantaged and vulnerable families are a priority for Caritas. Donations will continue to be collected and the warehouses are open to receive aid intended for the flooded areas of the Archdiocese of Đakovo-Osijek, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Republic of Serbia.