According to the ministry, about 2.2 million people left their homes during the 1992-95 war, more than half the country's prewar population. Of them, more than one million sought refugee protection in over 100 countries around the world. At the same time, nearly a million people are internally displaced.
About 400,000 refugees are believed still to be abroad, most of them integrated in receiving countries, but about 65,000 still need lasting solutions, of whom nearly 75 per cent in neighbouring countries, a statement said.
Bosnian authorities are cooperating with the governments of Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro to provide housing for refugees and displaced persons, the statement said, recalling that more than EUR 260 million was raised for a regional housing programme at a donor conference in Sarajevo in April.
The ministry said that despite many problems in Bosnia, significant progress had been made in terms of returns.