CROATIA LACKS MONEY TO ACCOMMODATE DISPLACED FAMILIES

ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - Croatia does not have enough money to secure alternative accommodation for about 6,000 families, mostly from Bosnia, by the end of this year, a government official said on Thursday. The families have to move out of flats owned by people, mostly Serbs, who escaped from Croatia during the Homeland war. His ministry manages about 42 million kuna, and 600 million kuna are needed for families, said Ljudevit Herceg, assistant minister for Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction. One way of collecting the required funds is a donation conference which is to be held in Zagreb at the end of March or beginning of April, Herceg said. He said Croats from Bosnia who have to move out of temporary accommodation said they wish to stay in Croatia. Only 10 percent are willing to return to Bosnia, he added. The ministry will secure building materials for construction and renovation of houses for those wishing to return, Herceg said. The Croatian and Japanese governments recently signed an agreement on renovation of returnees' houses in Republika Srpska. The Japanese government will allot US$600,000, and the Croatian government US$300,000, Herceg said. So far, Croatia has used 11 billion kuna from the state budget for the renovation of 110,000 housing units. (hina) np sb