The keys of houses built and renovated within the Regional Housing Programme (RHP) were handed over to 24 returnee families in Derventa on 10 February 2017.
Massimo Mina, Head of the Operations Section for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross-Border Cooperation at the EU Delegation to BiH commended the efforts of all parties involved in the project emphasising the importance of providing adequate living conditions for the returnees. “The sustainability of the regional housing programme relies on the capacity of the targeted municipalities to provide the socio-economic conditions required to facilitate local integration, in addition to pure housing solutions“, Mina said, adding that “The objective of the EU is to support a system in which the funds available are allocated on the basis of needs and objective vulnerability criteria, and are used effectively”.
Josip Ravlić, one of the beneficiaries, reminded that his family waited this moment for 24 years. “My father will return here, and I would like too, but at this moment I am not in a position to do so. First I need to see what to do for a living here,” Ravlić concluded.
Semiha Borovac, BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees pointed out the regional cooperation component which, according to her, brings greater stability and security in the region whose future is in the European Union. “A joint solution for this regional issue leads to strengthening good neighbourly relations. In BiH, by mid-2018, we plan to provide housing for 2.000 returnee families in 73 cities and municipalities through four sub-projects worth about BAM 87 million“, Borovac concluded.
Milorad Simić, Mayor of Derventa, expressed hope that the remaining number of returnees’ houses in Derventa will be rebuilt in the near future, promising the maximum support of the local authorities in the process.
The Regional Housing Programme envisages providing housing for nearly 27.000 households, or about 74.000 refugees and displaced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro. The total value of the programme is approximately EUR 584 million over a five-year period and the EU is the largest donor, contributing EUR 240 million.
Financial contribution is also provided by the government of the United States of America, as well as the governments of Italy, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Turkey and other donors. A strong support to the Programme is provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Following the delivery of the keys, a second event took place in Derventa, marking the commencement of reconstruction works of an old hospital facility, which will accommodate 50 refugees and displaced persons currently residing in collective centres. The reconstruction process of the facility is part of the CEB II project. This project is co-funded through a CEB loan and an EU grant and aims at closing 121 collective centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing durable accommodation to more than 7.000 people who are still living in collective and alternative accommodation across the country.
