LOCAL DEMOCRACY EMBASSY CALLS FOR HELP FOR CROAT REFUGEES

( Editorial: --> 4823 ) SISAK, April 5 (Hina) - The Local Democracy Embassy in Sisak, which is operating under the sponsorship of the Council of Europe and European Union, on Sunday sent a letter to international organisations and the local Sisak-Moslavina County authorities, asking them to urgently provide aid for Bosnian Croats who fled or were expelled from the Bosnian Serb entity and central Bosnia and are now living in the area of Banovina, in Sisak-Moslavina County. Some 5,000 Bosnian Croats in Banovina do not receive financial support and need help in food, furniture, firewood, as well as health care and buses for transport of pupils. Of that number, 4,000 live in Sunja and Hrvatska Kostajnica, while 1,000 live in villages surrounding Sunja and Kostajnica, said the Embassy citing data provided by the Association of Posavina Croats from Banovina. Around 30% Croat refugees do not have passports. The Embassy also warns of the uncertain future of Croat refugees in Banovina as the houses they are currently occupying belong, in most cases, to Serbs who are returning. Speaking about the project of two-way return, the Embassy says that few Bosnian Croats are able or intend to return to their homes in Republika Srpska because their houses had been destroyed or they are afraid to return. The Embassy calls on international institutions and local authorities, including the United Nations, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, European Union, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Committee of the Red Cross, Italy's Embassy in Croatia and Croatian ombudsman Ante Klaric as well as Sisak County Prefect Djuro Brodarac and Sisak Mayor Darko Pavlak to help the Croat refugees. (hina) rm 052017 MET apr 98