The floods that affected several local communities and settlements in the area of the City of Bihać are slowly subsiding, and the damage is summing up. In the settlement of Orašac, which is located at the very entrance to the Ljutočka Valley, around 50 households suffered damage due to the rise in water levels that overflowed from local streams and canals, flooding crops, residential and auxiliary buildings. In the settlement across from the Una in Klisa, about 15 households were affected by the floods, and the water cut the main road and cut off communication with the rest of the valley.
In the house of Grozdanić Hazim, we found his mother, who says that the torrent of water almost entered their house, the yard was flooded, the woodshed was flooded, crops and domestic chickens were endangered.
“We defended ourselves with bags so that the water wouldn’t get inside, we couldn’t leave the house. Civil Protection came to us and helped us with what we needed,” says Razija.
In the house of Zijad Hrnjica, the water penetrated into the garage, and from the garage into one room where the floor rose due to moisture. He says the damage is great, and he has not yet received financial assistance for the damage he had in December last year, also due to the floods.
“There was half a meter of water around the house. We were trapped inside, we couldn’t stop them from getting inside our house. They ask a lot of paperwork for us to fill out in order to get financial aid. I don’t know why it is so complicated,” asks Hrnjica.
“This is not the first time that Una blues around her. It happened even before the war. But now and last year it penetrated the house and I had to move to the upper floor. There is a lot of moisture because the walls are soaked and the furniture is full of water – says Bekir Omerdic..
“The water level reached the roof and when the water started to approach the barn, I took the cows out and moved them to save them from the water. No one ever helped us, nor did we receive any incentives or funds to settle the damage caused by the floods last year. I don’t know if the state will help now or at least build us another road because this main one was flooded and the whole village was blocked and cut off. We couldn’t be approached, we fought alone as we knew how,” says Senad Dervisevic.
The residents of these two settlements have filled out the forms they received and are hoping for material compensation for the damage from the local community.
