A significant public demonstration took place outside the Croatian parliament this month, drawing an estimated 40,000 participants. The protest was organized by the 'Gospić is our home' campaign, led by local resident Željka Šikić, to address the environmental crisis in the Lika region. Residents allege that between 2022 and 2024, large quantities of waste were illegally transported and buried at multiple sites within the town of Gospić.

According to reports from the local community, the dumping operations often occurred under the cover of darkness, with heavy lorries transporting materials past residential properties. One of the primary sites of concern is located approximately 50 meters from Šikić’s residence, where an estimated 35,000 tonnes of waste—some of which is classified as hazardous—has been identified. The protesters are calling for immediate government intervention to facilitate a comprehensive cleanup of the contaminated areas and to address the public health risks posed by the buried materials. While the protest highlights the scale of public frustration, the current report lacks a formal response from the Croatian government or the companies accused of the dumping, leaving the official status of the cleanup efforts and the identity of the perpetrators unconfirmed.