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International agencies urge Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities to provide social welfare housing
SARAJEVO 27 March 2003
SARAJEVO, 27 March 2003 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have urged Bosnia and Herzegovina's authorities to begin adequate planing for a fully-functioning social welfare system.
A letter has been sent to the Ministers in charge of social welfare, urban planning, displaced persons and refugees issues in both of the country's entities - the Federation and Republika Srpska. In it, the international agencies highlighted the pressing needs of the country's population with regard to property issues, especially in light of the expected completion of the property law implementation by the end of 2003, in accordance with the New Strategic Direction of the country's Property Law Implementation Plan.
There are several categories of people currently housed in alternative accommodation whose homes were completely destroyed and who have been unable to find reconstruction assistance.
Others have never possessed any property or benefited from the social welfare system before the war. Alternative accommodation under the property repossession laws is not an appropriate long-term solution for all cases of people who have no prospect of being able to provide for their own housing needs.
The international agencies also called upon the competent ministries to provide social support to the growing number of people who are not legally entitled to temporary accommodation under the laws on property and displaced person, but remain without resources to house themselves.
They urged the competent Ministers to anticipate these issues and begin instituting measures that would ensure a seamless transition from provision of alternative accommodation under the property repossession laws to effective long-term social policies. Such measures should include both a review of the current legal framework regarding social welfare and a realistic assessment of the resources necessary to meet anticipated needs.
A letter has been sent to the Ministers in charge of social welfare, urban planning, displaced persons and refugees issues in both of the country's entities - the Federation and Republika Srpska. In it, the international agencies highlighted the pressing needs of the country's population with regard to property issues, especially in light of the expected completion of the property law implementation by the end of 2003, in accordance with the New Strategic Direction of the country's Property Law Implementation Plan.
There are several categories of people currently housed in alternative accommodation whose homes were completely destroyed and who have been unable to find reconstruction assistance.
Others have never possessed any property or benefited from the social welfare system before the war. Alternative accommodation under the property repossession laws is not an appropriate long-term solution for all cases of people who have no prospect of being able to provide for their own housing needs.
The international agencies also called upon the competent ministries to provide social support to the growing number of people who are not legally entitled to temporary accommodation under the laws on property and displaced person, but remain without resources to house themselves.
They urged the competent Ministers to anticipate these issues and begin instituting measures that would ensure a seamless transition from provision of alternative accommodation under the property repossession laws to effective long-term social policies. Such measures should include both a review of the current legal framework regarding social welfare and a realistic assessment of the resources necessary to meet anticipated needs.