The Cataclysm in front of my eyes!

Hello everyone,
I'm afraid I don't have any good news to share today.
I've never used this blog as my personal vent for anything what other aspects of my life bring, nor has it ever been used for promotion my nationality, my political views, my personality, except what concerns to soaps and soapmaking. But today, I'm going to use my blog as a cry out to the world.
I don't know whether you have heard or seen what's been going on in Serbia and Bosnia these days. At the beginning, worlds media didn't take it as seriously as it really is.
There have been floods for days now.
But, not just ordinary floods. These is the most severe rage of the nature, the greatest floods that happen once in a thousand years. In Serbia, the water has covered the area, which is bigger than the whole territory of Macedonia.
Bosnia and Croatia has been suffering also. Serbia has got the worst of it, like 10 times more (financially) than other two countries.
In Serbia and Bosnia, over million people have been evacuated, thousands have lost everything, having left their homes with only what they wore at the moment and one whole town, 30 km away from capital Belgrade has been flooded, is if it'd never existed. So far it's been reported that 20 people lost their lives. It's expected this number to increase when the water takes back and gets an access to the flooded area.
The photo bellow showing the map of affected areas. I made it easier to understand, having put the arrows and the countries names.

It looks bad, but not close to how it is in reality. Because, I have prepared a photo essay for you, to get the better picture.
But, before you do, please watch this short video, recorded by Serbian National Television (it's short,I promise)

The video's showing a few flooded towns in Serbia, Obrenovac first and later, thousands of volunteers, trying to build a defending berm along the river Sava, trying to save what can be saved before the big wave comes. The whole nation felt the pain of the flooded towns and everyone was trying to contribute whatever and however they can. Neither army, nor police, not even the special forces sent from other countries were enough to defend the banks of the turgid, fast-running rivers.
Many of the pictures you're going to see below are from this video.

This is how Obrenovac looks like from the air

You can see from the picture how cataclysmic it looks.
Big western media houses were pretty ignorant, showing little, or no interest in what is going on in Serbia. Then, Novak Djokovic (a Sebian tennis player and World's No.2 ) when he won his last Master Trophy in Rome (May,2014) and made his winning speech, he called the biggest World's media to finally pay attention to what Biblical floods have done the great part of his country and Bosnia.
Suddenly, new river has started to flow in.
The river of reporters from abroad has started to come to Serbia and they still are staying there. After having taken a tour to the flooded areas,they all were agreed with one: something like this they had never seen before. The pictures of flooded Serbia towns and villages has started to be broadcast from completely devastated and non-existed places.

creepy view from the air

...and down, on the ground

numerous landslides and more demage

the power of water

Evacuation and rescuing

If they only could save them all

Thousands of animals were not saved

And after people have been evacuated, it was necessary to make sanctuaries (a lot of them) for acceptance large number of people. Some of them:

 happy to be alive and endlessly sad for not having home any more-some of 52 sanctuaries in Belgrade

At the moment this all began, the people of Macedonia, Monte Negro, Croatia, Slovenia ,even badly struck Bosnia (all members of the former big Yugoslavia), were strongly and deeply moved. In their hearts, but also took an action. Once again, it's been showed how close we are, not only physically, but also traditionally, by our minds and hearts, by our endless cousins connections, mixed marriages...

It was Sunday and Macedonia didn't have a weekend break. 

People shared information over social networks, calling for help for their brothers in Serbia. Skopje looked busy and crowded.

They started to collect everything what the evacuated people were missing  - water, food, blankets, pillows, sheets, all personal hygiene products, tooth brushes, underwear, clothes, shoes,....everything. And a truck convoy, loaded with 20t food goods, 10 t hygiene products, 60,000 l water, 1000 kg baby food, 10 t of clothes- all collected in one day, was heading to Serbian border Monday morning.

The Macedonian government, so as all governments from the region promptly reacted, sending professional police units, equipment and helicopters. Hundreds of volunteers from all these neighbouring countries went to Serbia to help rescue operations, which lasted for several days. 

Macedonian factories of all kinds, big and smaller companies joined and contributed with all they produce- food, water,electricity ...whatever. The entire country was mobilized to support Serbia and Bosnia. 

Macedonia is a small country, with about 2,5 mil. of ihabitants, with low GDP, and with its own problems. 

I'm proud to say that the first day when mobile companies opened a number for donations, Macedonian people collected over 120,000 EUR (165,000 $). One donating call is 1.5 EUR (2$), so you count now how many people dialed the number.

It's been said that this is the biggest, the most massive, the most versatile humanitarian action, since independent  Macedonia was established, 23 years ago. 
This is what my husband and I found, when we went to the nearest collection spot, in our municipality, where a big conference room was put at Red Cross' disposal.

This was just a part of what we saw there. People kept coming.
Below are the pictures what Macedonian people in several towns were doing on Sunday, may,18th. and the convoy on its way to Serbia.

This action is Macedonia hasn't been finished yet, nor will it be soon.

After countries from former Yugoslavia, many others, close and far started to send their help in money, goods and equipment: Russia, EU, USA, Norway, Denmark, France, Germany, Azerbaijan, Japan, The United Arab of Emirates and many,many others. Famous world's stars have been calling for help and donating themselves.
There is no money in this world that could be given to restore what has been devastated, ruined and lost, but I hope Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia will be strong enough to gather all its capacities, people, resources to fix, renew and rebuild what nature left behind in its furious run through our beautiful countries!


For all of you who can help, remember, it's not about how much you can donate, a stone by one- makes a palace!
For this special purpose, the Serbian government has opened a Pay-Pal account and it is:

floodrelief@gov.rs

floodrelief (at) gov (dot) rs

I need to specifically stress THIS IS THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT 

(noone else can open e-mail address at gov.rs domain. Because receiving money is still not possible in Serbia, this account belongs to Serbian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium)

Please, even if you cannot spare a dollar or two, to donate, share this post, maybe someone who can, will see it!

Thank you everyone!