On 15 July, four displaced and three returnee families received the keys of new housing units in Živinice. These were constructed within a EUR 8.1 million worth project „Support to durable solutions of the Revised strategy for implementation of Annex VII of the Dayton Peace Agreement“, funded by the European Union in the amount of EUR 7 million and co-funded with EUR 1.1 million and implemented by UNHCR in cooperation with project partners in Brčko District BiH and nine priority municipalities.
The overall purpose of the project is to assist vulnerable displaced persons and refugees in BiH, including the women victims of war, with finding solutions to social challenges that they are facing, through joint team work of the BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, local authorities, local community, civil society and other partners.
UNHCR Operations Manager in BiH, Olivier Mouquet said at the ceremony: “We are here to witness the handover of new houses for seven families who were still waiting for a durable housing solution following their forced displacement more than 20 years ago. Some have made the free choice to integrate here in Živinice Municipality and others to return here, in their place of origin. It is important to note that this achievement would not have been possible without a well coordinated approach, based on verified needs, prioritized according to available resources and by engaging municipal authorities, civil society and international partners including first and foremost the EU. However, as important as it is, a new house is not enough to rebuild a new life and UNHCR will continue advocating for more to be done by other partners and actors in terms of access to rights, services and most importantly socio-economic opportunities“.
Živinice Municipality provided technical support for the (re)construction of the housing units through participation in the Working group for selection of beneficiaries, by assisting beneficiaries with collecting necessary documentation, permits and by exemption from taxes for construction permits.
“By constructing these housing units for displaced and returnee families we have provided a significant input for the implementation of this valuable project. Let me express my gratitide to the donors, the European Union and other project partners who have helped these seven families in Živinice Municipality and provided them with a home. We, the Municipal authorities, did our part in accordance to our mandate in order to successfully build these houses”, said Asim Aljić, Mayor of Živinice.
The housing units in Živinice were constructed by Hilfswerk Austria International, which is tasked with implementing the housing and economic sustainability of the project. By the end of the project in 2016, a total of 105 housing units will be (re)constructed for the most vulnerable internally displaced people and returnees, including women victims of war, throughout the country.
„By the year’s end we will re/construct more houses in Živinice Municipality for beneficiaries which are currently being selected. We will also distribute grants for families that are in need of further assistance for economic empowerment to ensure that their re/integration is successful”, said Azema Avdusinović from Hilfswerk Austria International for BiH.
During the war, Himzo Husić was displaced from eastern BiH to Živinice Municipality and lived to date with his mother, spouse and two children in the collective center Stupari. Mr Husić managed to acquire a building plot while the housing solution was provided within the implementation of the Project. During the house key handover he stated: “My family is young, formed in a collective camp, and up until now, we had the feeling we just couldn’t go on anymore. Now we have a home , the foundation upon which we can build a future for us and our children.”
Project partners, in cooperation with the local authorities, are identifying the needs of displaced people and refugees with the aim of strengthening their social protection and inclusion, provision of health protection for the elderly, education for the children, provision of the free legal aid, psychological and social counselling and housing. The project started in 2014 and will be implemented until 2016 in Brčko District BiH and Bosanski Petrovac, Gradiška, Prijedor, Derventa, Maglaj, Bijeljina, Živinice, Mostar and Foča municipalities.
Project implementation partners are: UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Organisation for Migrations (IOM), Hilfswerk Austria International (HWA), Bosnian Humanitarian Logistic Service (BHLS), Foundation of Local Democracy (FLD), and Vaša Prava BiH Association.
For more information, please contact:
Neven Crvenković, Regional Public Information Officer, UNHCR, Email: crvenkov@unhcr.org , Tel: +387 61 611 082
