MOST RETURNEES COME BACK TO CROATIA ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE - UNHCR

ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - The biggest number of refugees - members of national minorities - has come back to Croatia in their own arrangement, using valid Croatian documents. Fifty-five (55) percent of returnees came back on their own, according to results of a survey on refugee return conducted in the last quarter in 2000 by PULS, Media Metar, and the Agency for Public Polls. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees issued these results on Friday. According to the poll, just 23 percent of returnees - members of ethnic minorities - has come back to Croatia with the assistance of the UNHCR and the competent Croatian Government office. Over two thirds (77 percent) have come back from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). Of all respondents, 85 percent is ready to advise other refugees to come back as well, citing "life in one's own home" as the most important reason for the return. Returnees mostly live in rural areas, and every fifth one lives in a village without a water-supply system or public transport. Almost two thirds of returnees (74.5 percent) are settled in their pre-war homes. Two thirds also say their houses or flats are either damaged or devastated, while only 10.8 percent said their homes were reconstructed. For 28 percent of returnees - ethnic minorities members - the biggest problem is ruined or occupied property. The absence of income is the biggest problem for 23.4 percent of respondents, while unemployment is the most serious problem for 14.3 percent. The head of the UNHCR mission to Croatia, Robert Robinson, said the poll proved that most returns were spontaneous and that the biggest problem for returnees was unreconstructed or occupied property. The results of this poll have been forwarded to the Croatian Government. (hina) sb ms