05.02.10
The official closure of 18 years of Danish Refugee Council (DRC) programs in Bosnia Herzegovina is marked on February fifth. Capacity building from DRC and others has enabled the government and NGO’s to continue the important effort of redeeming Bosnia – but there is still a need for support from the international community.
During the wars on Balkan, Bosnia had the attention of international donors and media. Since then the focus has shifted as new conflicts and problems arose. DRC has had a significant presence in Bosnia throughout war, reconstruction and the process of reconciliation.
“The DRC convoys brought food and aid to hundred of thousands of internally displaced during the war and our collective centres gave them shelter. When the war ended we participated in the reconstruction of homes, infrastructure, health-centres and schools and provided durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced wishing to return,” says general secretary of the Danish Refugee Council Andreas Kamm.
To support the process of reconciliation of the different ethnic groups of Bosnia and provide durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced the DRC has focused on capacity building of the local government and NGO’s now taking over the responsibility.
Bosnien has come a long way since the war – but a large number of IDP’s remain in need of durable solutions. Further political instability and a lack of protection of the rights of minorities is still an issue. If Bosnia is to leave the shade of the war it will demand a strong local effort and the support of the international community,” says Andreas Kamm.
The Danish Refugee Council is still supporting the return of refugees from Denmark to Bosnia and upholds programs in other areas of the former Yugoslavia.
Read the personal reflections by those effected by war