Petrinja Mayor says government aid is lacking

Initial estimates put the earthquake damage at 3 billion Kuna. So far, government has provided an initial 100 million Kuna in emergency funding.

Petrinja Mayor Darinko Dumbović feels the 30 million Kuna designated for his city is too low. He added that based on the initial estimates from structural engineers 90% of the buildings in the city will have to be demolished: "Everyone who received aid, received very little. Obviously this isn't the only aid we will receive. The prime minister gave me his word that there would be more. And I needed to hear that. But I was convinced that my message had to be clear. I will never allow politicians to circumvent experts when it comes to handing out financial aid."

Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Ivo Žinić rejected Mayor Dumbović’s assessment outright: "The government made these funds available immediately, and they are sufficient. 30 million Kuna is more than half of the annual budget for the city of Petrinja. I think, that at the very least, the mayor is off the mark with his comments."

"I won't question the motives for bringing this up right now and raising tensions. This is only the first part of the aid. Government didn't hand over 100 million Kuna so that it could forget the issue. This is the first aid package, meant to handle the immediate and pressing issues caused by the earthquake," added Labour and Pension System, Family and Social Policy Minister Josip Aladrović.

Source: HRT