Six two apartments in new residential buildings worth some 1.4 million euro were delivered in Bijeljina and Gradiška to beneficiary families of the Regional Housing Programme. So far, more than 1400 housing units were delivered to refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees in Bosnia and Herzegovina under this Programme.
“After our long displacement, illnesses and suffering, it’s amazing to see rays of sunlight enter our new home”, said Ranka Jovović, who received the keys to her new apartment in Bijeljina. Ranka is a single mother who together with her two daughters, one of whom is seriously ill, survived a difficult period of displacement.
The European Union is the largest donor to the Regional Housing Programme with 236 million euro in grants, of which over 63 million euro relates to projects in BiH. The Programme facilitates permanent and sustainable housing for refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees through the construction of apartments in residential buildings and renovation of houses.
Mile Vujašinović, who received an apartment in Gradiška, had changed temporary accommodation six times since leaving his hometown of Pakrac almost three decades ago. “I still can’t believe that we have an apartment!” he said. “My wife and daughter are also overjoyed. We are lucky to be able to live in this beautiful building”.
The Regional Housing Programme is a joint initiative between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. The goal of Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina is to build some 3200 residential units by 2021.
