Due to the heat wave that affected the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past period, large forest fires started in the wider area of Herzegovina, which is why the state institutions had to ask for international help in order to localize the fires.
All services from the protection and rescue system in the country make maximum efforts with the aim of bringing the fire under control, i.e. localizing the fire in order to protect the population and material goods.
Bearing in mind the limited resources for extinguishing fires, the Council of Ministers of BiH made decisions on the basis of which the possibility of requesting international aid for extinguishing fires was created.
Based on the request submitted to the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Acting Milan Novitovic, director of the Republican Administration of Civil Protection of the Republika Srpska, for requesting international assistance in protection and rescue, the assistance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia was requested to extinguish the fire in the Trebinje region.
In the request, it was stated that the fire threatens the population and material goods, and that all available resources for extinguishing the fire were used.
The request for international assistance was submitted in accordance with the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on cooperation in protection against natural and civilizational disasters.
Today, two helicopters of the Ministry of Interior of Serbia took part in extinguishing fires in the vicinity of Trebinje.
“Unfortunately, the previous good cooperation between the competent institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia in the field of protection and rescue is being undermined by the statements of certain officials who use such situations, such as fires, for political or other purposes, which does not contribute to good neighborly relations,” the Ministry of Security pointed out.
