President Thanks Members of “Alpinists, Speleologists and Altitude Workers are Helping Zagreb” Initiative for Post-Earthquake Efforts

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović has received members of the Alpinisti, speleolozi i visinci pomažu Zagrebu initiative [Alpinists, Speleologists and Altitude Workers are Helping Zagreb] for their volunteer efforts in helping the citizens of Zagreb after the recent earthquake. The President thanked them for their selfless engagement and achievements during the past month.

“You have exposed yourself to much greater dangers than Covid-19. I know how dangerous your work is and I thank you for that. Your engagement was non-institutional; everything needed to be organized quickly and we are lucky that we can always rely on good volunteers who are selfless,” President Milanović emphasized.

Mr. Rene Lisac acquainted the President with the Alpinisti, speleolozi i visinci pomažu Zagrebu initiative. He mentioned that its establishment took place shortly after the earthquake at the proposal of the alpinist section of the Croatian Climbing Society’s Zagreb branch and after the meeting of members and climbers of the mountaineering societies Velebit and Željezničar. Mr. Lisac added that this was a coordinated action by some 100 young people who divided themselves into groups. Since they were not experienced in the work that needed to be done, they were helped by altitude workers who provided training. Mr. Lisac underscored that it was an honour for them to be able to help our citizens and to put smiles on their faces – and to receive their expressions of gratitude.

Volunteer and initiative member Mak Sedmak thanked all the volunteers and altitude workers – but also the Zagreb Public Fire Department and volunteer fire departments – for their extraordinary work. He said this initiative has demonstrated that when people organize themselves they can accomplish great things and if they were organized by authorities perhaps they would accomplish even more.