After the floods that hit Bosnia and Herzegovina a year ago, more than 150 million in aid was provided for the reconstruction of housing units, infrastructure and the economy.
The European Union provided the most money, 130 million convertible marks. The day after the floods, the Croatian government donated 20 million BAM, and smaller amounts were paid by other countries and organizations.
The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina distributed these funds to municipalities and cantons based on the damage caused on the ground. The municipalities of Jablanica and Konjic received the most money, four million convertible marks each, as well as the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, which received more than 2.7 million BAM.
The humanitarian organization Pomozi.ba collected around ten million convertible marks to help the victims, and religious institutions more than five million.
However, a year later, many affected families are still living in containers, while some roads are still barely passable.
The citizens of Jablanica say that they are not satisfied with the pace or scope of what has been done so far, as well as with the overall attitude of all levels of government towards the victims. Also, they are not satisfied with the attitude of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton towards everything, because, they say, after a year they have no answers to the questions – why the tragedy happened, that is, the landslide, and whether someone should be held criminally responsible for all this.
“I was filming, but when I saw that the water was carrying him – I dropped my phone and went to get him, saved him and brought him into the house. Then the mud entered the house. In the meantime, I woke up my parents and we still went out through the window,” recalls Amina Imamović, a resident of Donja Jablanica.
That night, Amina was taken the most precious thing – nine members of her family. The home disappeared along with everything that existed in it. Every trace at the scene of the tragedy that has not been removed even after a year reminds her of a life that suddenly ceased to exist. The pain is raw, and the feeling of abandonment is immense.
“The municipality has done what is within their reach and what they can. While the state as a state – I hope they wake up and finally justify their salaries and chairs, not just sit and drink coffee,” she added.
Only the humanity of the people and donations keep the reconstruction process alive. Some buildings have been rebuilt, but many are still waiting their turn. Procedural obstacles and slow administrative steps are holding up the work. The promises of the authorities often do not match the pace of the needs of those who have lost everything.
“As for housing, we have come to a figure of six to seven million convertible marks, considering that it was necessary to build 20 new housing units in Donja Jablanica and three in the Zlate settlement. In Mirke, six families received their new housing units,” said the mayor of the Jablanica municipality, Emir Muratović.
The first anniversary of the floods was marked through two worlds. The splendor of the ceremonial academy of the municipality and the place of the real tragedy – a gathering organized by the citizens themselves. Many invited officials did not appear, citing official business, and those who did sat in the front row, while the tones of solidarity echoed through the hall. The families in the background, with their silent presence, spoke more than words. A paradoxical gesture that revealed the true image of solidarity.
“Today I stand here with pain in my heart, but also with pride that I can talk about those who marked my life and the lives of all of us”, said Amina Imamović in her speech at the commemoration.
Justice is still far away, investigations take place behind closed doors, and the public does not know the details. So far, not a single indictment has been brought. The inaction of the authorities and the closure of the process leave the survivors alone with pain and memories. Such an attitude of the authorities sends a clear message: those who survived must learn to live with the tragedy that the system skillfully ignores.
