In the Karakaj settlement of Zvornik, the keys to the residential building built as part of the project to close collective centers and alternative accommodation “CEB dva” were handed over to 37 users.
Assistant Director of the Secretariat for Displaced Persons and Migration of the Republika Srpska Gojko Ljotić stated that the value of this project is around 2,240,000 KM, of which two million KM were allocated for construction works, and around 240,000 KM for furnishing the apartments.
He said that the project was co-financed by the Government of the Republika Srpska through a loan from the Council of Europe Development Bank.
Stressing that this project is closing collective centers, Ljotić stated that resettlement has not solved all the problems when it comes to housing for refugees and displaced persons.
“There are about 600 families registered with the Secretariat and local communities who are still waiting for housing, and these are refugees and displaced persons who cannot solve their housing problem on their own or are socially vulnerable,” Ljotić noted, adding that the data is submitted to the Secretariat by local communities.
He pointed out that the “CEB Two” project in the Republika Srpska was implemented by the Secretariat for Displaced Persons and Migration.
According to him, this project provided housing for 703 families at the level of the Republika Srpska, of which 573 families moved into apartments in 18 local communities, as well as two geriatric centers in Derventa with a capacity of 100 and in Trebinje with 30 beneficiaries.
“The total project was financed by a loan from the Government of the Republika Srpska in the amount of slightly more than 18 million euros, while local communities contributed about 11 million euros, primarily through the allocation of construction land, building permits and infrastructure connections,” said Ljotić.
The Mayor of Zvornik, Bojan Ivanović, pointed out that the collective centers were closed by the families moving into this residential building.
He noted that the City of Zvornik provided construction land, building permits and all infrastructure connections for this building in the amount of about 500,000 KM.
Ratko Stanković, one of the newly moved tenants of the building, thanked everyone who made it possible for his family, as well as other users of alternative accommodation, to live in comfortable apartments from today.
The construction of this building began in December 2020.
The ceremony of handing over the keys and cutting the ribbon was attended by representatives of the Republic Secretariat for Displaced Persons and Migration of the RS, the Directorate for Reconstruction and Construction of the Republika Srpska, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, the Government of the Brčko District, the Return Fund of BiH and other guests.
Photo: illustration
