Mr. Constantino Longares, Head of Operation Section III of the European Commission Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina addressed the participants at the ceremony that marked the beginning of the EU funded Project “Integrated Landmine-Survivor Assistance in Mine-Affected Returnee Communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina” in Sarajevo today.

The specific objective of the project is to provide ninety (90) landmine survivors from mine-affected target communities with significant minority return with an opportunity to develop livelihoods and increase household income and thus strengthen their position in the local socio-economic environment.

In his address, Mr. Longares outlined that this Project is oriented towards job creation activities and how European Union is critically engaged and will continue to be engaged in strategies that will successfully rehabilitate and fully reintegrate in economic, social, and political life the people that suffered the most. “The project builds on capabilities, and not disabilities of landmine survivors and should contribute to their social inclusion.”, said Mr. Longares and added that Bosnia and Herzegovina as a pre-accession country would need to strengthen its strategic approach to promote social inclusion so that all citizens, including the most vulnerable ones, are able to benefit from economic growth. In that regard, he reiterated commitment of the European Union to provide all necessary help to BiH authorities, whose main responsibility was to create the conditions for successful preparation for membership and better future for all citizens of this country.

Mr Marko Nišandžić, Mercy Corps Country Director in B&H in his address reminded that every tenth person belongs to vulnerable people and that every month five new landmine victims are registered. In that regard he concluded his address with the message shared by all participants in the Project, that vulnerable persons and especially landmine victims should become a priority of the society.

At the occasion of opening ceremony all partners and co-funders signed the Memorandum of Cooperation and officially marked the beginning of the Project.

About the Project

The overall objective within this CARDS Program is to complement and encompass the strategy of European Union (EU) to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina with a view to its participation in the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Project would be implemented in the next 18 months by Mercy Corps Scotland in 112 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina together with Brcko District.

Partners in the project implementation are Landmine Survivors Network, Union of Associations of Refugees, Displaced Persons and Returnees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Association Centre for Development and Support.

Besides the funding ensured by European Union, co-funders of this Project are: Ministry of  labour and disabled veterans’ protection of Republika Srpska, Ministry of labour and social welfare of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hypo Alpe Adria Bank BiH.

Total project value is 475.000 Euro, where European Union provided 394.158 Euro.