Gorazde, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 22 May 2019 – A celebration took place today in Gorazde, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to hand over the keys to new homes to 20 beneficiary families.

The Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, Semiha Borovac, said: “I am sure that these 20 families who receive keys of their new homes today, after a long and uncertain period of displacement, will succeed in achieving their goals.”

Gianluca Vannini, Head of Operations of the EU Delegation to BiH: “A lot has been done thanks to the efforts and commitment of all parties within the RHP supported by the European Union. However, in order to integrate families into their communities, challenges such as access to education, social services and employment opportunities remain to be addressed. Our help does not stop here; the EU will continue to support reforms aimed at job creation and better living conditions for all citizens in BiH”.

“In 1992, Gorazde was the mother of the entire region, as it received more than 50 000 refugees and displaced persons from the surrounding cities. We have done everything to accommodate them and this building gives a great contribution in this regard”, said the Mayor of Gorazde, Muhamed Ramovic.

Alexander Chuplygin, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, added: “Both OSCE and UNHCR in BiH are glad to have assisted in the beneficiary selection process, and we will continue to work closely with all of our partners to ensure continued implementation of RHP. I’m sure I speak for all of us in wishing the future occupants a happy and prosperous life here.”

Previous home of the Dedovic family

In their new home

67-year old Zahir Dedović said: “I cannot express how happy I am. This is the first apartment I am going to own in my entire life. I lived with my wife in a house without running water or functional toilet, and in this apartment, we have everything.”