Notes
from the Field ...
" For two years,
our reconstruction programmes, in the wide sense of the word, have
focused on the "integrated" return of refugees and displaced persons,
who are often minorities … Although we rebuild houses and appartment
blocks, re-tarmac roads, although we supply villages with water and
electricity, although we provide lighting for streets or districts,
we also create jobs. We allow people in difficulty to become independent
again, autonomous, to start over. So we are not a building company,
even though sometimes we are in concrete up to our neck, because the
purpose of our action is to bandage and to heal the wounds caused
by the war. " Nicolas,
Head of Mission |
1997-2000
: Programmes for the return of displaced families
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To
return home, one not only needs a roof over one's head, but also
running water, electricity, roads and pavements, schools for one's
children, health centres, and a certain level of financial resources
and economic prospects to be able to meet the needs of one's family.
It is for this reason that since 1997, SOLIDARITES has been implementing
Integrated Return Programs for refugee and displaced families.
These programmes include the reconstruction of housing (houses,
apartments) and public buildings (schools, health centres), as well
as the rehabilitation of local infrastructures (water, electricity,
roads, street lights).
They also include an extensive socio-economic programme (distribution
of micro-credits, installation of advisory bureaus), which is essential
to accompany the return of displaced families.
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1995-2000
: Reconstruction Programmes
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The
reconstruction programmes which commenced in 1995-1996 became, in
1997, Integrated Programmes to Assist the Return of Refugees, which
we continue to implement today. These programmes still include a
large proportion of reconstruction work. The following is a summary
of the reconstruction projects carried out by SOLIDARITES since
1995, in the different regions of Bosnia.
Reconstruction
of 865 homes, including 675 houses and 190 appartments (see
map above)
Rehabilitation
of 20 primary schools benefiting the schoolchildren at Tarcin,
Cazin, Mrkonjic-Grad, Travnik, Stup, Una-Sana (Bihac) and in the
Tuzla region;
Rehabilitation
of 3 health centres in the Tuzla and Bihac regions;
Rehabilitation
of the "Zavod" Institution for about 400 mentally handicapped
people: sanitary installations, facade, roofing, central heating,
kitchen and carpentry;
Rehabilitation
of the Breza kindergarden (130 children)
Rehabilitation of 6 electricity networks and 5 water supply networks
at Otes, Travnik and Stup, as well as in the Tuzla region.
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1994-1999
: The Sarajevo Youth Centre
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SarajevoYouth Centre, also known as "Sunçokret" (Sunflower), situated
in the Kosevo 2 district, allows 550 children aged 3 to 17 years
to do some sport, to draw, to play a musical instrument, to learn
foreign languages, to use a computer, and to participate in other
educational activities.
The
Centre opened in May 1994 during the war. Today, though there
is peace, these children need us and need this centre. Sunçokret
allows young people in Sarajevo to rediscover the childrens' games
and leisure activities.
In August 1998, Sunçokret became a Bosniac NGO. SOLIDARITES
accompanied this transformation by supporting the centre financially
until december 1999. Today, Sunçokret is completely independant.
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1992-1998
: Emergency Relief - Food and Protection
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Food
Aid
Varés, Olovo,
with Gérard d’Aboville (Christmas
1992)
Operation
"10,000 hand-delivered Christmas parcels" for 10,000 families;
Food aid
for 500,000 people through active participation in the HCR's
distributions in Central Bosnia
Distribution of
Family Parcels in the regions of Pazaric, Zenica, Tuzla, Bihac et
Mrkonjic-Grad :
April
1995 to February 1998
14,800
vulnerable families (physically
and mentally disabled persons, orphans, elderly, single mothers,...)
received monthly food and hygiene parcels : oil, pasta, sugar, rice,
soap, and washing powder.
Food
Supplements Programme
April
1993 to April 1995
760 tons of protein-enriched biscuits and dairy products
for 70,000 pregnant or breast-feeding mothers.
Avril 1995 à Février 1998
nutritional supplements for children aged 1 to 5 in the surrounded
village of Bihac.
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Baby
Hygiene Parcels
Monthly parcels for 1 700 enfants aged
between 0 and 1 year in the regions of Pazaric and Tuzla:
Contents
: baby shampoo, talc, baby cream, baby soap, cleansing milk, 100%
cotton nappies, biodegradable washing powder.
Emergency
Relief for the Winter
October 1994
Distribution
of winter clothing (Pazaric and Tarcin). Operation repeated in 1995
benefiting 9,700 persons in the Konjic municipality.
January 1998
380 stoves
distributed in Mrkonjic Grad to families with precarious living
conditions
Domestic
hygiene products
40 000 beneficiaires in the region of Pazaric
Distribution
of hygiene parcels from March to July 1996
Assistance
to schoolchildren
September 1993, Sarajevo
Distribution
of school stationery to 8,000 children
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