The European Union has placed at disposal of Bosnia and Herzegovina 87 million Euros to mitigate the consequences of catastrophic floods that hit the country in May, and 42 million Euros are already available.
“In cooperation with the BiH authorities last week we organized a donors’ conference in Brussels, BiH was promised 809.2 million Euros, which is a very significant amount and significantly greater than 650 million which is the amount of short-term needs for reconstruction in BiH.
In this context, the European Union has made available 87 million euros and 42 million euros are already available,” said in an interview with FENA in Sarajevo Director for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo at the Directorate-General for Enlargement, Jean-Eric Paquet.
According to him, these 42 million have already been prepared for implementation, and they will be designated for housing for the most vulnerable part of the population. The funding will be available to provide assistance to 4,000 housing units.
In addition to this, these 42 million euros will enable the reconstruction of more than 100 schools affected by floods, precisely 100 to 120 schools. Thus, most schools will be renovated.
“We will also support small businesses and households so they can re-launch their economic activities,” said Paquet.
The European Commission has announced another 45 million at the donors’ conference.
“These funds will also go particularly in support of small and medium enterprises. Part of these 45 million euros will be directed to help the country to reconstruct the system of flood protection,” explained Paquet.
Paquet believes that this is really a high priority for the country, stating that the rains in the past few days again caused minor flooding in Bratunac, Doboj and Maglaj, and some of the houses were re-flooded in which the population have just returned.
(Source: Fena)
