Tears were streaming down the faces of Tuzla citizens, but this time they were tears of joy.
Twenty internally displaced families received keys to their new homes in Tuzla, at a ceremony held on 7 December. These families are among the most vulnerable categories of society and after 25 years of waiting they finally have a roof over their heads again.
“I never believed I would live to see the day,” Hanumica Jusić, a civilian war victim from Zvornik, responded with tears in her eyes as she accepted the keys to her flat. As her hands trembled, gripping the keys firmly and holding them close, a look filled with gratitude and a firm embrace brought tears to the eyes of everyone present.
The new building was constructed within the EU Regional Housing Programme and is situated in Ši village in Tuzla. It leans on another housing block that was also constructed with EU assistance last year, within a social housing project for vulnerable categories.
Neighbours again
After the beneficiaries moved into their new flats, a moving encounter followed between two beneficiaries of EU assistance. The curiosity of Emsudin Čivić to find out who his new neighbour will be and the yearning of Mujo Hamzić to take in the view from his new flat led to a reunion of long-time neighbours from Zvornik.
Emsudin and Mujo had been separated by war in 1992 and found each other again after 25 years, building next to building, flat next to flat, just as they had once lived house next to house in Zvornik.
As they reached across from their balconies for a handshake, the tears in their eyes said it all. Images from the past were revived, mixed with sadness and joy of the new encounter and a hope for a better future.
435 housing units have been built so far within the Regional Housing Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a further 1,200 units are planned to be ready in 2018.
The European Union is the largest donor of the Regional Housing Programme and has so far allocated EUR 49 million for housing of some of the most vulnerable families throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(Source: europa)
