Keys of the first houses built and renovated as part of the National Housing Programme implemented within the Regional Housing Programme (RHP) were handed over to the members of eight returnee families in Olovo on 12 April 2016.
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 584 million euro over a five-year period.
“Within the Regional Housing Programme, on the territory of BiH the EU has allocated some 36 million euro, and together with the financial assistance of BiH in the amount of 5.5 million euro we hope to assist almost 2000 households in 72 communities across the country“, said Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative.
Semiha Borovac, BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees stressed the importance of regional cooperation within the programme. “It should be noted that in addition to resolving the issue of refugees and displaced persons, this programme has a significant impact on the strengthening of cooperation and reconciliation, and rebuilding the mutual trust in the region, which is a prerequisite for a stable future for our citizens within the European Union“, said Minister Borovac.
Fehim Gondžić, who together with his family received the keys of the new home, said: “Today, 12 April 2016 is one of the happiest days of my life. I would like to thank everyone involved in the programme as from now on my family will have a decent home“.
The Country Housing Project (CHP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to provide housing for 5,400 families or 14,000 refugees and displaced persons. The total value of the CHP is 101 million euro. The contribution of Bosnia and Herzegovina is approx. 15.2 million euro, while the majority of cost is funded from the Multi-Donor Fund of the Regional Housing Programme managed by the Council of Europe Development Bank.
The main donor of the Programme is the European Union, and a significant financial contribution is 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.
