Helping returnees survive their first winter back home
Refugees return to Croatia
Nedjeljko and Radojka Vukdragovic and their two children fled the country in 1995, along with about 300,000 other Croatian Serbs, ahead of Operation Storm, a large-scale Croatian military offensive. They were one of a small number of young refugee families who decided to return.
The Government of Croatia expects that the return of refugees like the Vukdragovic family and the reconstruction of their war-damaged houses should be completed by the end of 2006. However, with the final date for the completion of the return process fast approaching, a lot still remains to be done to ensure that the return is also sustainable.
OSCE assists vulnerable returnees
As part of these efforts, the OSCE Mission provided co-funding of 25,000 EURO for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency's (ADRA) Winter Relief 2004 project, which aims to promote the sustainable return of former refugees. Based on its field observations and expertise, the Mission also compiled a priority list of potentially vulnerable returnees who could benefit from winter aid.
The Vukdragovic family belong to one of the most vulnerable refugee categories, since their house was not occupied or war-damaged, but simply abandoned for almost a decade. This meant that the family was not eligible for any kind of reconstruction assistance from the state - despite the fact that their house was just as uninhabitable as if it had been damaged in the war. Their situation underlines the vital importance of the role played by international relief agencies such as ADRA, which can fill in the aid gaps not covered by existing legislation.
Thanks to the Winter Relief 2004 project, the Vukdragovic family was provided with building materials to repair the roof of their run-down wooden house, as well as help with electrical installations.
OSCE Mission Head visits family
February 2005 saw temperatures as low as -15° C and heavy snowfalls that made the roads to Gornji Skrad almost impassable. That was when Ambassador Peter Semneby, Head of the OSCE Mission, accompanied by Tomislav Vidosevic, Assistant Minister in the Croatian Foreign Ministry, visited the Vukdragovic family to see for themselves the difficulties of life as a returnee.
It seemed as though the severe weather was conspiring to add to the family's day-to-day worries about making ends meet. They have to send the two children to school, buy clothes and shoes, have at least one hot meal a day and pay the bills, on just 1,200 kuna (about USD 220) of welfare assistance every month.
They also face the problem of finding employment again. Before the war, the couple worked in Karlovac, but since their return to Gornji Skrad, neither has been able to find a job.
"When we returned, we literally had nothing. In the half-demolished house there was not even a bed on which we could sleep," says Radojka. "Even now that we have a roof over our heads, it is still difficult to live in the Kordun hills."
The family admits that their return has been an especially difficult time for their two children. Every morning, Nedjeljko and the children have to trudge 10 km through the deep snow to the school in Krnjak.
Sustainability is key to success
Despite the current problems, however, the Vukdragovic family say they are looking forward to better days.
Tihomir Lipohar, ADRA Manager for Croatia, is also hopeful. "Our formula for return is: a roof over the head, economic development and reconciliation. We insist on staying," he says.
Lipohar's optimism is well-founded. This year, ADRA provided 100 families with construction materials. Over the past six years, more than 700 houses have been rebuilt, providing the returning families with a roof over their heads.
Apart from help reconstructing their homes, the returnees also receive assistance in surviving the first winter after their return. This year, 12,000 people got direct aid in the form of basic needs for survival, including food and hygiene packages, bedclothes, blankets, stoves and wood.
OSCE expertise on refugee return
Refugee return is one of the main focal points of the work of the OSCE Mission to Croatia. It has expert knowledge of the rate of return and its sustainability, as well as the obstacles faced by returnees, which include the lack of access to housing and infrastructure.
Using findings from its field observations, the Mission makes recommendations to the Government and discusses them with its international partners.
Nedjeljko and Radojka Vukdragovic and their two children fled the country in 1995, along with about 300,000 other Croatian Serbs, ahead of Operation Storm, a large-scale Croatian military offensive. They were one of a small number of young refugee families who decided to return.
The Government of Croatia expects that the return of refugees like the Vukdragovic family and the reconstruction of their war-damaged houses should be completed by the end of 2006. However, with the final date for the completion of the return process fast approaching, a lot still remains to be done to ensure that the return is also sustainable.
OSCE assists vulnerable returnees
As part of these efforts, the OSCE Mission provided co-funding of 25,000 EURO for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency's (ADRA) Winter Relief 2004 project, which aims to promote the sustainable return of former refugees. Based on its field observations and expertise, the Mission also compiled a priority list of potentially vulnerable returnees who could benefit from winter aid.
The Vukdragovic family belong to one of the most vulnerable refugee categories, since their house was not occupied or war-damaged, but simply abandoned for almost a decade. This meant that the family was not eligible for any kind of reconstruction assistance from the state - despite the fact that their house was just as uninhabitable as if it had been damaged in the war. Their situation underlines the vital importance of the role played by international relief agencies such as ADRA, which can fill in the aid gaps not covered by existing legislation.
Thanks to the Winter Relief 2004 project, the Vukdragovic family was provided with building materials to repair the roof of their run-down wooden house, as well as help with electrical installations.
OSCE Mission Head visits family
February 2005 saw temperatures as low as -15° C and heavy snowfalls that made the roads to Gornji Skrad almost impassable. That was when Ambassador Peter Semneby, Head of the OSCE Mission, accompanied by Tomislav Vidosevic, Assistant Minister in the Croatian Foreign Ministry, visited the Vukdragovic family to see for themselves the difficulties of life as a returnee.
It seemed as though the severe weather was conspiring to add to the family's day-to-day worries about making ends meet. They have to send the two children to school, buy clothes and shoes, have at least one hot meal a day and pay the bills, on just 1,200 kuna (about USD 220) of welfare assistance every month.
They also face the problem of finding employment again. Before the war, the couple worked in Karlovac, but since their return to Gornji Skrad, neither has been able to find a job.
"When we returned, we literally had nothing. In the half-demolished house there was not even a bed on which we could sleep," says Radojka. "Even now that we have a roof over our heads, it is still difficult to live in the Kordun hills."
The family admits that their return has been an especially difficult time for their two children. Every morning, Nedjeljko and the children have to trudge 10 km through the deep snow to the school in Krnjak.
Sustainability is key to success
Despite the current problems, however, the Vukdragovic family say they are looking forward to better days.
Tihomir Lipohar, ADRA Manager for Croatia, is also hopeful. "Our formula for return is: a roof over the head, economic development and reconciliation. We insist on staying," he says.
Lipohar's optimism is well-founded. This year, ADRA provided 100 families with construction materials. Over the past six years, more than 700 houses have been rebuilt, providing the returning families with a roof over their heads.
Apart from help reconstructing their homes, the returnees also receive assistance in surviving the first winter after their return. This year, 12,000 people got direct aid in the form of basic needs for survival, including food and hygiene packages, bedclothes, blankets, stoves and wood.
OSCE expertise on refugee return
Refugee return is one of the main focal points of the work of the OSCE Mission to Croatia. It has expert knowledge of the rate of return and its sustainability, as well as the obstacles faced by returnees, which include the lack of access to housing and infrastructure.
Using findings from its field observations, the Mission makes recommendations to the Government and discusses them with its international partners.