Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BiH Deputy Resident Representative, visited Municipality of Modriča today where they were introduced to the activities on flood and landslide recovery, as well as on achievements accomplished under the Local Integrated Development (LID) Project. These activities are implemented in the Municipality of Modriča with the support from the EU and UNDP.
One-day visit begun with the visit to Oteža settlement where houses for families whose homes were destroyed in 2014 floods and landslides are being built. Nine families from Modriča will receive new houses, while housing units of 22 families will be rehabilitated to achieve appropriate living conditions, all under 15 million EUR worth Flood Recovery – Housing interventions Programme.
After the tour of the construction site and conversation with the beneficiaries, Ambassador Wigemark highlighted that this is the cooperation that the EU wants to develop: “We want to work with local governments because that is the best way to reach to citizens. We work with both entity and state governments, but the best way for us to see the results is in local communities“.
One of the beneficiaries of the Flood Recovery – Housing Interventions Programme is Stana Petrović. “I cannot describe how happy I am. The most important thing in the life is to have a roof over your head,“ she said. Her house was destroyed in the landslides in 2014 and her new home is being built in Oteža.
After the construction site in Oteža, the delegation visited sports hall that was also rehabilitated with the support of the EU under the LID Project. Ambassador Wigemark and Mr. Khoshmukhamedov used this opportunity to deliver a donation of sports equipment for children with developmental difficulties.
With the support of LID project that is part of the EU Programme for Local Development and Employment, Municipality of Modriča approached its Development Strategy in an integrated manner. The aim was to improve public services, decrease the administration costs, invest in infrastructure and open new jobs for socially vulnerable citizens.
“Modriča Municipality is one of the examples of support given after the 2014 catastrophic floods, where local community made transition from recovery to development, using an integrated approach. By optimizing costs, more than half a million KM of savings were made and these resources will be invested by development projects“ said Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, UNDP in BiH Deputy Resident Representative
EU and UNDP representatives also met with municipal authorities and local businesspeople who presented the results achieved as part of the projects, as well as economic challenges they face in this Municipality.
“We want to thank all those who helped the development of Modriča. Together, we made people happy and that is what matters“ said Modriča Municipal Mayor Mladen Krekić.
