ICMC became active in the Balkans in 1993,
implementing the United States Refugee Processing Program to assist refugees
from Bosnia to resettle in the USA. Now, with fourteen offices in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Croatia, and FRY, the International Catholic Migration
Commission (ICMC) continues to implement the US Resettlement Program along
with an array of economic revitalization and return assistance programs.
These are regional in scope and facilitate and promote the sustainability
of minority return, tolerance and durable solutions for refugees and the
internally displaced.
Current ICMC programs and those scheduled
for implementation through May 2001 are outlined below.
RESETTLEMENT
ICMC's Refugee Resettlement and Cultural Orientation Programs, based in Zagreb and established in 1993 and 94 respectively, have assisted thousands of people to rebuild their lives in the USA. In 2000 alone, the Resettlement Program processed the applications of almost 3,500 refugees bound for the USA, while the Cultural Orientation Training Program prepared over 8,000 predominantly Bosnian refugees in Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland and the Netherlands for integration in the USA.
MINORITY RETURN ASSISTANCE
With European Union (EU) funding, in mid-1999 ICMC initiated a return assistance program to facilitate the return of minority families, currently living in exile, to their homes of origin in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. This year, using both EU and US government funding, the program has begun to facilitate the return of one thousand refugees from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by June 2001. The EU and US has also provided funds through the same period to allow for the facilitation of internal return in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as returns to and from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. These return assistance programs draw on a network of refugee and displaced persons associations to identify families who want to return but face obstacles in doing so. Caseworkers assess whether it is likely that people can overcome these obstacles with the resources available. Using a casework approach, the program then provides individualized, step-by-step assistance to deal with bureaucratic, administrati
ve and logistical barriers to return. Caseworkers represent families to the various local authorities to help them resolve legal and bureaucratic issues, and to local and international agencies to assist families gain access to sustainability and humanitarian programs. Where necessary, the program provides direct assistance to cover the costs of minor repairs, transport of belongings, legal fees, etc. Caseworkers work closely with municipal housing authorities and return associations, and have been instrumental in advocating for the eviction of persons illegally occupying the homes of families who seek to return.
ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMING
Since 1998 and with funding from the United States Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), ICMC has implemented a wide range of economic revitalization initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. These promote the sustainability of minority return through the establishment and/or expansion of minority-owned businesses and the creation of jobs. Program components to be implemented through May 2001include:
Business and Community Inputs
In the past two years, ICMC has provided material and equipment to over 400 businesses that were able to demonstrate a capacity to expand their productivity, increase their profits, and create jobs. Another 250 businesses are targeted for assistance during this program year in communities impacted by minority return, including those of Canton 10 (Drvar, Glamoc, Grahovo), and the Eastern REPUBLIKA SRPSKA (Sokolac, Han Pijesak, Rogatica, Foca, Trnovo, Gorazde), and in Croatia, Former Sectors North and South, and Western Slavonia. In addition, 14 communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia in need of the development of a social infrastructure to consolidate the return of minorities to their homes are being assisted this year.
Micro-credit
Through Project Enterprise (www.projectenterprise.ba), ICMC's micro-finance institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, low-income female entrepreneurs are given access to credit to establish or expand their businesses. With offices in Bihac, Zenica, Travnik, and Mostar, Project Enterprise has provided over US$4,500,000 in loans to over 5000 women (internally displaced and returnees) while maintaining a 99% repayment rate.
In Croatia, DEMOS, (icmc-microcredit@ka.tel.hr) ICMC's newly-registered savings and loan co-operative based in Karlovac, has provided 400 loans to small business owners. Target population: minority returnees to former Sectors North and South.
Business Training
All business owners who take part in ICMC's micro-credit schemes are provided with training to develop their entrepreneurial capacity, with a particular focus on the development of business management and marketing skills.
Apprenticeship placement
In the past two years, ICMC has placed over 1200 individuals in apprenticeships, the majority of whom were offered steady employment after the completion of a three-month apprenticeship period. By May 2001, a further 250 apprentices will be placed in jobs in both Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia.
Assistance for Self-organized Returns in Bosnia and Herzegovina
ICMC, in cooperation with the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is responding to the needs of minority returnees to "breakthrough" communities in the Eastern Republika Srpska. Here, an immediate demonstration of concrete support is necessary to consolidate the return of minorities. In 2000, ICMC provided quick-response inputs of material and equipment to several communities in the municipalities of Srbinje/Foca, Vogosca, Rogatica, Trnovo, Gorazde, Kalinovik, and Sokolac. The type and scale of assistance provided by ICMC has depended on a number of factors, including the level of reconstruction activity planned in the community this season, the level of security, the presence of mines, the number of able-bodied workers, and the needs identified by the returnees themselves.
TOLERANCE TRAINING
Through tolerance training workshops, ICMC develops peer-counseling networks that foster an environment of reconciliation and multi-ethnicity in communities in Former Sectors North and South in Croatia. In the past two years, ICMC has conducted tolerance training workshops for over 900 residents who took part in structured activities, reflected upon what occurred as they engaged in the activity, and compared it to their personal experience in similar, real-life situations. This year, ICMC is using these workshops as a tool to identify community groups who are receptive to the development of inter-ethnic community projects that will further enhance multi-ethnic relations in the community. In the past, two such groups have revitalized their community centers with funding from the Canadian Government and support from businesses assisted by ICMC under the above mentioned Business Inputs component.
ASSISTANCE FOR EXTREMELY VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS
Returnees to "breakthrough" communities (most of which lack electricity) endure great hardship, particularly during the harsh winter months. Of particular concern are the extremely vulnerable minority families in need of emergency assistance. Such assistance is critical to those who face the choice of remaining in their original homes throughout the harsh Balkan winter or returning to a life in exile. This winter, ICMC is ensuring that the most vulnerable minority returnees in need of emergency assistance in areas where ICMC is active will have access to a level of support that will help make their return sustainable. Emergency assistance takes the form of medical supplies, clothing, heating fuel, food, emergency transportation, etc.
With appropriate governmental and intergovernmental funding, ICMC is now implementing a program in Serbia to identify and facilitate the provision of care for extremely vulnerable individuals among those displaced from Kosovo, as well as among the host population. Using a case management approach, ICMC coordinates with local and international agencies to ensure the provision of care for the most needy among these populations and, where necessary, provides direct assistance to those in need of urgent help. The current extremely vulnerable refugee and IDP caseload in FRY being assisted has surpassed 6,000 families.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Deputy Regional Director, Albert Ramirez
ICMC
Trampina 12/V
71000 Sarajevo
Tel : ++387 33 211 470
E-mail : aramirez@bih.net.ba
For information regarding business and
community inputs, apprenticeships, assistance for self-organized returns
and extremely vulnerable individuals:
Rebecca Ramirez, (ramirez@bih.net.ba) Program Manager
Amira Lekic or Darko Vujovic , (icmcrea@bih.net.ba) Liaison Officers.
Telephone: +387.33.211.495, Fax: +387.33.230.568
Croatia
Regional Director, Charles Davy
ICMC - Geneva Berislaviceva 11/2
10000 Zagreb
Tel: ++385 1 487 23 45
E-mail: Charles.Davy@zg.tel.hr
For information on business and community
inputs, apprenticeships, and tolerance training:
In Karlovac: Anita Runje, Program Manager, or Stevan Babic, Liaison Officer.
Telephone/Fax: +385.47.431.275 (icmc-mrp@zg.tel.hr)
In Knin: Danijela Bura-Aiken. Telephone/fax: +385.22.661.003 (icmc-knin@zg.tel.hr)
Return Assistance
Country Representative, Conan Piesen
ICMC
Kralja Petra 70/I
11000 Belgrade
Tel: ++381 11 184 474
E-mail: icmcfry@eunet.yu
For information regarding return assistance
from FRY to Croatia or Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Program Manager. Telephone: +381.21.614.513; Fax: +381.21.24.682 (icmcns@eunet.yu)
For information regarding the return
assistance between Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia, or between the
entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Johan Verheyden, Program Manager. Telephone: +387.33.211.495; Fax: +387.33.230.568
(icmcbl@inecco.net)
Micro-Credit
For information regarding micro-credit:
In Bosnia:
Sean Kline, Executive Director, Project Enterprise. Telephone: +387.36.552.682; Fax: +387.36.552.683 (sean@projectenterprise.ba)
In Croatia:
Caroline Tsilikounas, Program Manager, DEMOS Savings and Loan. Telephone/Fax: +385.47.648.380 (icmc-microcredit@ka.tel.hr)