Council of Ministers of BiH requests international assistance in firefighting

(Patria) - The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security, unanimously adopted the Decision on requesting international assistance for protection and rescue in firefighting, after fires have affected Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This decision requested international assistance in firefighting in the form of firefighting forces, equipment, and aircraft for firefighting from countries with which Bosnia and Herzegovina has signed agreements and memorandums of cooperation in protection and rescue, and through the procedures of the European Union (EU) Civil Protection Mechanism.

International assistance for firefighting will be received by the competent civil protection authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The decision will be valid as long as the danger of fires persists during 2024, the Council of Ministers of BiH announced.

Four fires are active, and the situation is most critical in Zelengora, where the fire threatens to endanger Sutjeska National Park.

For three days, firefighters and the RS Helicopter Service, and today also a helicopter of the Armed Forces of BiH, have been making maximum efforts to bring the fire under control. The terrain is inaccessible, and the wind is also hindering firefighting efforts.

Minister Nešić consulted this evening with the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dačić, and it was agreed that helicopters from the Republic of Serbia will participate in firefighting starting tomorrow morning, primarily in extinguishing the large forest fire in the Zelengora area.

Nešić stated that the Ministry of Security of BiH will continue to coordinate the provision of assistance to endangered areas with the aim of extinguishing the fire as quickly as possible and preventing further material damage and the endangerment of human lives and natural resources.