Croatia to host children from Ukraine for recuperation
Croatia will host 100 children of wounded and fallen Ukrainian servicemen for recuperation this autumn. As Ivica Pirić, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Split (Croatia), reported, Croatia has been organizing seaside holidays for Ukrainian children since 2015, with the organizational support of the Embassy of Ukraine in Croatia and the Prime Minister of Croatia. Over the 9 years of the program, which is funded by Ivica Pirić's foundation, in the coastal city of Split
Croatia will host 100 children of wounded and fallen Ukrainian servicemen for recuperation this autumn. As Ivica Pirić, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Split (Croatia), reported, Croatia has been organizing seaside holidays for Ukrainian children since 2015, with the organizational support of the Embassy of Ukraine in Croatia and the Prime Minister of Croatia. Over the 9 years of the program, which is funded by Ivica Pirić's foundation, 3,500 Ukrainian children and 400 combatants have visited the coastal city of Split in Croatia.
“Croatia went through a war in 1991–1995 in which more than 20,000 people died and thousands of servicemen became disabled. A significant part of Croatia's territory was mined, and cities and towns were badly damaged. Many internally displaced persons have to go through a difficult period of reintegration. Croatia has extensive experience in the treatment and rehabilitation of servicemen and in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders in children. The current generation of Croatians, including government officials, are children of war; the problems Ukraine is solving today are very close to them, so we want to help. The least we can do is give a holiday by the sea to the children of Ukrainian heroes who are defending Ukraine's independence,” Ivica Pirić said.
In October 2023, Ukraine and Croatia signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of demining, which provides for the training of specialists, surveys of territories, their demining and clearance, and the exchange of experience in the production of demining equipment. According to the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Croatian demining machines are operating in Ukraine, and in mid-2023 Ukrainian and Croatian manufacturers agreed on localizing the production of such machines in Ukraine.
Pirić is a Croatian footballer who works as a FIFA agent after the end of his career. Since 2016, he has been Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Croatia. Pirić helps wounded Ukrainian soldiers and children affected by the hostilities.