Croatia earthquake: aftermath and failings in disaster relief

Observation

Media are finally showing images from the edges of small villages. The damage is severe: entire houses and farms destroyed. My neighbour was there with the caravan convoy. Nothing remains. No electricity, no food. No roof over their heads.

Context

The earthquakes continue. Aftershocks hit every hour, from light tremors to clear shocks. Buildings that hadn’t collapsed are giving way. The Kupa River is about to overflow. People might need boats more than caravans soon.

Caravans and portable cabins are arriving from everywhere. The Ministry of Tourism is helping, along with major recreation organisations. The €88.6 million in EU aid disbursed in September 2020 must be somewhere. Private initiatives are putting in huge effort: more than 700 calls from strangers begging for a caravan because they no longer have a roof over their heads. Many are elderly or young families.

Reading

The relief effort has a dark side in the larger towns. People staying with damaged or collapsed houses are being robbed in the dark. People bringing food and emergency supplies are being stopped and robbed. The perpetrators are an unknown group, probably from surrounding villages that haven’t received help yet. No fire brigade, no army. Nothing.

Transports are now escorted by the MUP (police), who check what is on board and where it’s most urgently needed. That explains why a large pile of food and goods sits in Petrinja uncollected. Cross-collections went from Petrinja to Zagreb without clear accountability.

Notes

The collection is going well, but the logistical chain shows weak spots. Direct delivery to people who need it works better than central depot distribution, but it needs coordination the government isn’t providing. Civic initiatives fill the gap. The scale isn’t enough.