Sanitation of the liberated territories in Croatia after the Storm campaign: the example of Lika-Senj County.

More than 6,000 km2 of the central and southern areas of the Republic of Croatia were liberated by the Storm campaign, August 4 to 7, 1995. On August 8, 1995, the Ministry of Health sent expert teams to the newly liberated areas, to ensure the basic conditions for the displaced persons to return and live there. To describe the public health measures taken we used the examples of Lika-Senj County (3,746 km2 and 71,215 population). By October 1, 1995, 50 bodies, killed in action, had been detected, pathologically and forensically examined, and then buried. Two hundred thirty-three mostly elderly and sick persons were admitted to the reception center in Gospic; 93 of them returned to their homes, 133 were accommodated with their relatives and friends, and 7 were referred for treatment (4 of them died). Two hundred ten cattle carcasses were buried using adequate sanitation measures, whereas 5,575 sheep, 3,138 head of horned cattle, 298 head of hoofed animals, and 300 head of other cattle were caught alive. The procedures of disinfection, disinfestation, and deodorization were performed in 720 apartments, 2 hotels, 3 schools, 1 kindergarten, 1 health care unit, 1 sports hall, and 5 shops. The main water pump was cleared of mines and partially repaired, whereas some 20 water supply facilities were placed under surveillance. Three food depots were found and properly treated. The entire territory was closely observed for possible occurrence of infectious disease.

[Improvement of sanitation conditions in the liberated Croatian regions after the "Storm" campaign--the Lika-Senj County example]. / Asanacija oslobodenih podrucja Hrvatske nakon akcije "Oluja"--primjer Licko-senjske zupanije.

More than 6,000 sq km of the central and southern areas of the Republic of Croatia were liberated by the Storm campaign, August 4-7, 1995. On August 8, 1995, the Ministry of Health sent expert teams to the newly liberated areas, in order to ensure the basic conditions for the displaced persons to return and live there. To describe the public health measures taken we used the example of the Lika-Senj County (3,746 sq km and 71,215 population). Until October 1, 1995, 50 bodies, killed in action, were detected, pathologically and forensically examined, and then buried. Two hundred and thirty-three mostly elderly and sick persons were admitted to the reception center in Gospic; 93 of them returned to their homes, 133 were accommodated with their relatives and friends, and seven were referred for treatment (four of them died). Two hundred and ten cattle carcasses were buried using adequate sanitation measures, whereas 5,575 sheep, 3,138 head of horned cattle, 298 head of hoofed animals and 300 head of other cattle were caught alive. The procedures of disinfection, disinfestation and disodoration were performed in 720 apartments, 2 hotels, 3 schools, one kindergarten, one health care unit, one sports hall and 5 shops. The main water pump was cleared of mines and partially repaired, whereas some 20 water supply objects were placed under surveillance. Three food depots were found and properly treated. The entire territory was closely observed for a possible occurrence of infectious diseases.