Support for returnees in the Livno Valley
08 March 2004
 The
Livno valley (see photo left) lies to the east of the Dinara Mountain Range
and is one of the largest plains in Western Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). It is a fertile valley, suited to
agricultural production, particularly raising livestock.
The area saw fierce fighting during the war. It suffered
serious losses and wide scale destruction, as opposing
armies fought for control, and much
of its population became displaced.
People started to return to their pre-war homes in the
Livno Valley region in 1997. Today many of the returnees
still have no electricity and struggle to obtain basics
necessities that we take for granted.
 Duro
Nenadic returned to his ruined house in Radanovci, Livno
Municipality after living for many years as an IDP
(Internally Displaced Person) in Banja Luka
(see photo right). Duro and his
wife were living in a small hut when they first applied to
UMCOR for economic development assistance. Their
application was successful and they purchased a cow with
the grant, which they repaid in-kind with a healthy calf.
Duro also received materials from UMCOR to build a barn.
They received reconstruction assistance from the
government of the Republika Srpska which made it possible
for them to reconstruct their home.
International aid has been vital for the initial and
long-term sustainability of returns to pre-war communities
in BiH. UMCOR BiH has been a part of this process for more
than a decade, assisting with relief and reconstruction
programs to provide durable housing solutions, with
economic development assistance to ensure minority
returnees have the means of generating income for
themselves and their families, as well as programs to
strengthen civil society. The returnees themselves have
also have shown great determination to make their return
successful and long-term.
In the Livno valley today, minority returnees like Duro
and his wife are looking forward to a better future.
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