PROBLEMS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE IN SIBENIK COUNTY

SIBENIK. Oct 8 (Hina) - The head of the Croatian government's office for displaced persons and refugees, Dr. Adalbert Rebic, today talked with workers of the Sibenik office for displaced persons and refugees and representatives of the displaced persons now sheltered in Sibenik County (southern Croatia). Sibenik and its county now accommodate about 16,000 displaced people and refugees. The head of the Sibenik County displaced persons' association, Ante Jerkovic, told Rebic that 10,000 displaced persons in the private accommodation had been receiving insufficient food and humanitarian aid for several months. Some of them were even evicted from houses where they had to be accommodated for the time being, Jerkovic said. The expelled people, now in "Solaris" hotels were also receiving little relief aid, and could not enjoy the public health care, he said. The Solaris hotels' management also proposed that about 3,000 displaced people should leave these facilities because of preparation for next summer season. Dr. Rebic said that the reason why the displaced persons were receiving less and less relief aid was the fact that the European Union was sending less and less aid to Croatia. "EU sends 12,000 tonnes of food monthly to us. The food is then distributed to 600 places in Croatia. What is worse, only basic victuals have been lately sent," Rebic said. The office for the displaced persons and refugees sent a request to the government to raise the money assistance for the displaced persons from 100 to 150 kunas, he said. There are now 382,000 displaced people and refugees recorded in Croatia, and 22 per cent of them is in the organized adequate accommodation. (hina) mm 082021 MET oct 94