In Bosnia and Herzegovina, around 19,000 people are fed in a total of 57 public kitchens, while in 70 cities and municipalities this kind of service does not exist at all.
In Banja Luka, the regional dialogue “Food for All” was organized today in the organization of the UN Development Program /UNDP/ in BiH, with the aim of creating an improved legal and financial framework for the fight against food poverty in BiH and realizing the right to food.
Amina Umićević from the Innovation and Integration Unit of UNDP said that, thanks to public kitchens, individuals get one hot meal a day.
“It is devastating that in 70 cities and municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina this service does not exist at all. Citizens from those communities, if they come from vulnerable categories of the population, are deprived of the right to have a hot meal,” said Umićević ahead of the regional dialogue in Banja Luka.
According to her, many people who are ill, have poor mobility or come from elderly households cannot prepare a meal for themselves, while the general situation regarding the exercise of the right to a hot meal in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not satisfactory.
She stated that through a series of regional dialogues, the public should learn about this problem in order to formulate recommendations for improving the situation on the ground.
“The recommendations refer to the strengthening of the framework for social protection in BiH, improvement and cooperation between centers for social work, public kitchens, humanitarian organizations and the community so that the right can reach those who need it, and on the other hand, that public budgets are also more involved in solving the problem of hunger”, assessed Umićević.
President of the Humanitarian Association “Mosaic of Friendship”, Miroslav Subašić, emphasized that their kitchen makes 800 meals every day, and even 1,200 on weekends.
Subasic added that around 1,500 people are asking for their help.
The president of the Association “Narodna kuhinja Optimisti” from Prijedor, Zijad Čanić, said that this kitchen has 254 users, of which 142 come from the Center for Social Work.
He believes that too much food is wasted, and that retail chains should also get involved in projects such as “Food for All”.
Through a series of regional dialogues, UNDP wants to conduct consultations throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina with key actors in the social protection system and outside it, who can contribute to the achievement of the common goal of enabling every person in Bosnia and Herzegovina to exercise the right to a hot meal in a fair and dignified manner.
Until September 19, regional dialogues will be held in Doboj, Mostar, Bihać and Sarajevo.
Today’s dialogue in Banja Luka was attended by representatives of competent municipalities and cities, social services, centers for social work, coordinators of public kitchens and representatives of other humanitarian organizations.
