Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 19 June 2023 – A further 30 refugee and displaced families can celebrate World Refugee Day (20 June 2023) in their new homes thanks to the Regional Housing Programme (RHP), as keys to newly-built RHP apartments were delivered in Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today.

In addition to the beneficiaries themselves, the event was attended by Gianluca Vannini, Head of Operations, Section for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross-Border Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to BiH; Nerin Dizdar, Minister of Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Federation of BiH; Smiljan Vidić, Mayor of Čapljina; Ioannis Piliouris, Head of the Field Office in Mostar at the OSCE Mission in BiH; Nermina Džepar-Ganibegović, RHP Country Housing Project Lead Manager at the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, and Anita Hodžić, Adviser to the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH.

On behalf of the European Union – the main Donor to the RHP – Gianluca Vannini congratulated the BiH authorities on the completion of approximately 2 600 housing units, and stated that he eagerly looked forward to the successful completion of the RHP this year, by which time approximately 34 000 people would enjoy decent homes across the region. He additionally urged Partner Countries to make all efforts to ensure that all remaining families received their new accommodation as planned by Programme-end.

Minister Dizdar proudly pointed out that the RHP building was the largest project intended for refugees and displaced persons in the Herzegovina region, thanks to the EU and other RHP Donors. ″We will end the story of displaced persons, refugees and returnees in BiH so that everyone is able to exercise their right to housing, as well as equal access to public services and employment,″ he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Sanela Brajković, expressed her gratitude to all those who had made it possible for her family to receive their new apartment. “We have a special feeling today,″ she said. “Good people made it possible for us to get a new home. It is our dream come true.″

Gianluca Vannini, Mayor Vidić, Minister Dizdar and Anita Hodžić cut the ribbon to the RHP building in Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Gianluca Vannini congratulates an RHP beneficiary in Čapljina

Two RHP buildings in Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina