"Return to Srebrenica, Bratunac and Vlasenica"
BACKGROUND
The "Return to Srebrenica, Bratunac and Vlasenica" project is implemented
under UMCOR's Relief
program and funded by the
Netherlands through the Embassy in Sarajevo. The project, which started on 01
June 2004 and is to be completed by 15 May 2005, has the following goals:
- To facilitate the return of 95 displaced families through the provision of
reconstruction assistance for 95 badly damaged and uninhabitable pre-war houses
- To reconnect up to 70 of these houses to electricity supply
- To rehabilitate, where necessary, up to 10,000 metres of access road to the housing
units owned by the beneficiaries selected to receive reconstruction assistance
- To provide as necessary and where possible income generation assistance to the
project beneficiaries through UMCOR BiH's Economic Development
programs
Since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995, the Netherlands has been
one of the most generous bilateral donors to support post war reconstruction and
development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2003 alone, a total of
EUR 17 million was
provided for programs implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For more information regarding the Netherlands program of development aid
to BiH please go to:
www.netherlandsembassy.ba
Since 1998, UMCOR has implemented and completed 24 return and reconstruction
projects funded by the Netherlands, completing a total of 1,760 housing units and
a range of technical infrastructure projects including, school reconstruction,
water supply rehabilitation, road reconstruction and electrification works.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The return dynamic to the Municipalities of Srebrenica, Bratunac,
and Vlasenica in north-eastern BiH has gained momentum
since 2000 and
today, there is a significant need for reconstruction and return programs for
members of minority communities wishing to return to their homes. As the return
process is relatively 'new', assistance is important in order to consolidate
returns and ensure long term sustainability for returnees.
People returning to these municipalities need to be able to rebuild their
destroyed homes, the first step for returnees as they reintegrate and try to
re-establish themselves in their former communities. UMCOR employs two types of
reconstruction assistance depending on the make-up of the beneficiary family
selected for assistance. These two types of assistance are:
- Self-Help assistance - for families with physically fit male members who are
able to complete the reconstruction works themselves
- Contracted reconstruction for Extremely Vulnerable Cases (EVCs) - for
families with no physically fit male members between the ages of 18 and 65
- Each potential beneficiary is individually assessed by UMCOR staff in the field
in collaboration with Municipal Return Commissions.
Ninety percent of reconstruction assistance targets minority returnees while 10%
of beneficiaries are majority returnees. Priority is given to potential
beneficiaries who are spontaneous returnees living in temporary accommodation
such as sheds, tents, in part of their ruined houses, with neighbors or who may
be living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) elsewhere in BiH, often in a
collective center.
Beneficiaries provided with Self-Help assistance organize reconstruction work
and generally rebuild their houses themselves. They receive materials from UMCOR
in phases and the completion of each phase of works must be verified by field
staff before the materials for the next phase are delivered. Limited assistance
is provided to the beneficiaries for the employment of skilled tradespersons
when necessary during the reconstruction works. People who rebuild their houses
themselves invest great time and energy in the work, increasing their sense of
'ownership' of the completed house. It is often the case that only those truly
committed to long-term return will undertake to reconstruct their houses
themselves.
There is a high proportion of EVCs in these three municipalities - a consequence
of the terrible history of the region. Housing units which are rebuilt by
outside constructors are tendered in groups so as to reduce material and
labor costs.
Water and electricity reconnection and road repair are provided wherever
necessary and feasible so as to provide improved access to and quality of living
in the reconstructed homes.
For minority returnees, it is often difficult to secure a viable livelihood.
Srebrenica, Bratunac and Vlasenica Municipalities are amongst the most
economically depressed areas of BiH. It is vital that returnees are able to be
able to support themselves and their families financially so as to ensure that
their return is successful in the long term. UMCOR strives to provide assistance
through economic development programs to enable beneficiaries to generate
income. Beneficiaries receive grants or subsidized loans which they use for
agricultural inputs such as machinery, livestock, seeds or seedlings, fruit
trees or tools or beneficiaries may use the funding to set up small businesses
such as hairdressing salons. Repayment may be an in-kind community contribution
or a partial cash repayment, depending on the situation of the individual
beneficiary. The form of repayment is determined by UMCOR staff based on set
criteria such as whether the beneficiary is the head of household, the number of
dependents or whether there are other sources of income within the family.
Click for more information on UMCOR BiH
Relief and Economic Development Programs
Updated July 2004
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The "Return to Srebrenica, Bratunac and Vlasenica" is enabling
families such as Mr and Mrs Golic to rebuild their homes and
give up the temporary shelters, such as this shed, which they
have been living in since their return to Vlasenica
Municipality.