UNHCR, OSCE AND UNLO ON THE RETURN PROGRAMME

( Editorial: --> 4862 ) VUKOVAR, August 20 (Hina)- The Government's Office for Refugees and DPs last week granted the return of 665 persons from the FRY, thus bringing the total number of return permits to 1,739, says a joint report by UNHCR, the OSCE and UNLO on implementation of the Government's programme for the return and accommodation of DPs and refugees, released in Vukovar today. According to the report, 465 persons have already returned to Croatia by private transport and 1,021 are waiting for assistance. Housing commissions are still being established in the return areas, but their passivity and disorientation are causing considerable amount of confusion and concern amongst the persons who have filed for the return, the report says. UNHCR, the OSCE and UNLO believe that absence of instructions for the operation of the commissions "is not and cannot be the reason why they should not be able to assume their role". By the same token, even when they are not ready to make decisions they should intervene in housing disputes, which are continuing as if the return programme had not been passed. Many housing commissions also report a partial or total lack of alternative accommodation. However, that is not being reported to the Government's commission, as required by the return programme. In order to improve the situation the Government should build "a vertical reporting structure, which is obviously missing at this point". The international organisations also believe that the decisions of the housing commissions on accommodation of DPs and refugees in refugee camps should be frozen and revised. (Hina)mr 201922 MET aug 98