SARAJEVO, May 9 (Hina) - The return of members of minority ethnic groups to various parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) since the beginning of the year has accelerated significantly in comparison to 1999, a spokesperson for the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Mission to BH said in Sarajevo on Tuesday. According to UNHCR data, a total of 7,377 persons have returned to their homes on BH territory between January and March, while only 1,717 managed to do so in the same period last year. The figures refer solely to displaced persons or refugees returning to towns and villages in which they represent a minority ethnic group, and are important as such returns are the slowest. The head of the UNHCR Mission to BH, Werner Blatter, said the figures were very encouraging and confirmed expectations that this year would see a genuine progress in terms of returns. Especially encouraging is the fact that the
SARAJEVO, May 9 (Hina) - The return of members of minority ethnic
groups to various parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) since the
beginning of the year has accelerated significantly in comparison
to 1999, a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees Mission to BH said in Sarajevo on Tuesday.
According to UNHCR data, a total of 7,377 persons have returned to
their homes on BH territory between January and March, while only
1,717 managed to do so in the same period last year.
The figures refer solely to displaced persons or refugees returning
to towns and villages in which they represent a minority ethnic
group, and are important as such returns are the slowest.
The head of the UNHCR Mission to BH, Werner Blatter, said the
figures were very encouraging and confirmed expectations that this
year would see a genuine progress in terms of returns.
Especially encouraging is the fact that the first serious returns
have been recorded in areas which have been completely closed thus
far, like Zepa, Foca, Gorazde, and "Serb Gorazde", all in eastern
BH.
UNHCR Mission spokeswoman Barbara Smith however pointed out that
similar projects could be jeopardised due to UNHCR's lack of
necessary financial means.
(hina) ha mm