OHR (South) calls on Federation Ministry for Social Welfare to disclose information regarding reconstruction program in the Mostar region

The Office of the High Representative is very concerned about the performance of the Federation Ministry for Social Welfare in its reconstruction assistance program.

The ministry made certain promises regarding the reconstruction of some 450 pre-war houses in the Mostar region, specifically in Canton 7 and Eastern RS.

Beneficiaries were designated by the ministry, and UNHCR provisionally confirmed their eligibility for assistance. In order to be included in the Federation program, beneficiaries had to remove themselves from waiting lists for other programs.  In addition, designated beneficiaries who occupied claimed property vacated their temporary residences and moved into buffer accommodation, anticipating the delivery of construction materials. Even though the Ministry gave assurances to designated beneficiaries, to date no assistance has been delivered, and no further information has been forthcoming.

Despite requests from OHR to do so, the Federation Ministry for Social Welfare has yet to publicly disclose all information pertaining to the reconstruction program in the Mostar region.  The ministry should particularly explain what has happened with the funds that were promised more than one year ago. The displaced persons who received assurances of support under the Federation program deserve to be informed of the current state of affairs.  Their lives and livelihoods hang in the balance. The least that the citizens of BiH should expect from their elected officials is full transparency.