Romania to Support Serbia with Firefighting Efforts

Romania is stepping up to aid Serbia in battling the devastating forest fires that have scorched over 3,500 hectares in the Deliblato Sands Nature Reserve. The intervention comes as Serbia, facing a challenging situation in a hard-to-access area, has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism seeking assistance.

In response to Serbia's call for help, Romania will send a Black Hawk rescEU helicopter, marking its first international mission. The helicopter is part of the European rescEU reserve and is prepared for rapid deployment. Romania's Department for Emergency Situations announced that a team of 69 personnel and 15 technical units are ready to assist on the ground.

Serbia had requested support through the EU mechanism, specifically asking for large-capacity aircraft and helicopters. While the EU has provided some assistance, including two Canadair planes from Greece and additional Air Tractor planes from Cyprus and North Macedonia, Serbian officials have indicated these do not fully meet the urgent needs on the ground.

Luka Čaušić, head of Serbia’s Department for Emergency Situations, emphasized the inadequacy of the equipment received, stating that Serbia is in search of a larger aircraft capable of carrying over ten tons of water. In light of this need, Serbia has also sought assistance from Russia, requesting an Ilyushin-76 aircraft, which can transport 42 tons of water and can make multiple drops throughout the day.

As the situation evolves, Serbian authorities continue to assess their needs, with Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić confirming the request to Moscow for additional support. The collaboration with Russia has sparked some controversy, especially given that President Aleksandar Vučić had previously stated that European resources were sufficient just hours before the urgent request was made.

Despite the challenges, Romania’s commitment to assist highlights a spirit of regional cooperation in times of crisis, as both nations work to combat the ongoing threat of wildfires.