Prijedor, 13 July 2018 – Today, 50 RHP beneficiary families received keys to their new apartments in Prijedor (RS), Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This multi-apartment building is part of the BiH3 sub-project, which foresees the construction of 27 apartment buildings with 552 flats throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. Several apartment buildings have already been completed and handed over, and the entire sub-project shall be finalised by end-2019. The total investment amounts to more than EUR 17 million.

Semiha Borovac, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was hosting the event, said that this initiative is significant for the integration of the most vulnerable families, but also for the whole country. “90% of the companies engaged in the implementation of this project are local. In that way, we also support the economic development and employment in Bosnia and Herzegovina“, stated Minister Borovac.

“I would like to thank the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and all the donors who supported the construction of apartments in Prijedor and throughout the country, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of the Republika Srpska, as well as the implementation agencies for the work done, and to congratulate all the families who can now peacefully live in our city”, said Milenko Djakovic, Mayor of Prijedor.

“There are 9 cities in the Republika Srpska where we are also building homes, which will solve the housing issue for beneficiaries currently living in temporary housing, socially vulnerable families and refugees from Croatia”, emphasised Davor Cordas, Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Republika Srpska.

“It gives me great joy to hand over the keys to your new apartments and I wish you success and progress in your new homes. The European Union has provided significant assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the countries of the region in support to the refugees, displaced persons and returnees” said Gianluca Vannini, Acting Head of Operations Section for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross Border Cooperation of the EU Delegation to BiH.

“The waiting has paid off”, said Milka Radakovic, one of the beneficiaries who had lived with her mother Gospava and son Aleksandar in an alternative accommodation in Ljubija, a small iron-mining town near Prijedor. “We are grateful to all of those who have contributed to making it possible”, added Ms Radakovic.