Bosnia-Herzegovina - DHA-09: 18-30 August 1996
Bosnia-Herzegovina - DHA-09: 18-30 August 1996
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Humanitarian Situation
Report No. 9, 26 September 1996
Covering the Period 18-30 August 1996
GENERAL HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
1. While the national elections on 14 September went
smoothly from the standpoint of security (lack of any
violent incidents) with a reportedly large turnout, the
candidates elected confirm a further consolidation along
national and ethnic lines. At least in the short term,
UNHCR sees that little change will occur in the attitude of
officials towards accepting returns of minorities to their
former homes. UN humanitarian organisations supported the
OSCE, the UN Mission and IPTF on election day by providing
vehicles and personnel to assist in monitoring. UNHCR took
the opportunity to maintain a wide field presence
throughout the country with an eye to observing any
interference with the right of refugees and displaced
persons to vote. As widely reported, the number of
displaced and refugees crossing the IEBL to vote in their
former homes, now occupied by another entity, was much
lower than had been expected (20,000 estimated to have
crossed the IEBL). Detailed information on the elections
are available from various other reports.
2. There was no major interruption of programmes of
humanitarian and emergency reconstruction assistance during
the run-up to and during the elections. There has been an
increasing speed-up of activities, particularly in the
shelter sector, as the construction season will come to a
close in less than two months in most areas of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The UNHCR enter-entity bus service was resumed
on 19 September after being suspended from 11 to 18
September.
3. There have been problems regarding delivery of
assistance in some areas. Notably in Bihac (Una Sana
Canton) distribution of food and non-food items has been
paralyzed due to the lack of fuel for secondary delivery. A
solution is expected in the near future, so that deliveries
can begin again. WFP and UNHCR will be increasing efforts
to explain to municipalities and other government
representatives changes that will be occurring in the way
beneficiaries are selected for food and non-food
assistance.
4. There have been some encouraging signs for possible
spontaneous returns of minorities in the Zone of Separation
(the Mahala case). UNHCR has indicated its position that
opportunities to support truly spontaneous returns of
persons to their former homes in the ZOS should be
exploited. However, caution has been expressed when such
returns may be organised with other (political) objectives
in mind.
TARGET AREAS FOR RETURNS AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE
5. Efforts continue to solicit donor, UN agency and NGO
support to the identified Target Return Areas (TRA).
Regular inter-agency meetings chaired by UNHCR and IMG in
the field offices throughout Bosnia have included
discussion of the progress and needs in the Target Areas.
IMG, in collaboration with the DHA Senior Humanitarian
Officer SHAO and UNHCR, are presently compiling detailed
reports on the continuing infrastructure needs in the
Target Areas, completed, ongoing and programmed activities,
as well as gaps remaining. UNHCR will supplement that
information with an assessment of returns to the Target
Areas thus far in 1996 and returns that may expected by the
end of the year.
6. DHA and UNHCR have expressed concern that some asylum
countries may be construing the Target Areas as being safe
areas for general return of refugees, and therefore, as a
pretext for lifting of temporary protection. To reiterate,
the areas have been designated based on the recognition
that in these municipalities and villages the principle
constraint to return of the owners or otherwise legal
occupants (emphasis added) to their homes is the level of
physical destruction and not political or security
concerns. The TA approach (for the present) does not,
therefore, address the shelter and community needs of those
refugees and displaced whose former homes are located in
the area of another entity (minority areas), where, for the
present, returns are still not possible. On the other hand
the approach does not imply that returns should not or
cannot take place in other areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
as there are clearly other areas where shelter and
reconstruction work is under way and where additional
returns can also take place. UNHCR and IMG have merely
attempted to provide guidance to donors and organisations
in channeling of funds to areas where it is felt that a
significant impact on returns may be realised.
7. UNHCRs Protection Unit is currently reviewing all of the
identified target areas in order to analyse the current
situation in the relevant municipalities related to
protection issues.
8. DHA and UNHCR will continue to support the Target Areas
approach for the remainder of 1996 and also within the
context of the next phase of humanitarian operations in
1997.
OTHER HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES AND PLANNING
9. UNHCR sponsored a workshop to explain the Bosnian Women
s Initiative (BWI), funded by the US Government and to
solicit proposals. Programmes are now well into the
planning stage for some activities and other activities
could get under way as soon as grant funds are released by
the US Government (expected by the end of September).
10. The Draft Implementation Report related to activities
in the current Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal was
completed in Sarajevo and is now under review by UN
Agencies prior to finalisation in Geneva by DHA and UNHCR.
Preparation of this report occupied the majority of the
SHAO s time during the reporting period.The DHA SHAO
greatly appreciates the assistance in the preparation of
the document provided by Mr. Jose Riera, UNHCR, SOFY,
during his mission to Sarajevo and also expresses
appreciation for the timely submission of inputs by the UN
Agencies. The final report should be ready for distribution
by mid-October.
11. The inter-agency meeting scheduled to take place in
Sarajevo on 24 and 25 September to discuss the UN
Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for 1997 was postponed to
7 and 8 October. Discussion will centre around the time
frame for the Appeal, strategies for assistance in 1997,
linkages with the development and reconstruction
organisations and other aspects of the Appeal.
12. The SHAO prepared an internal note related to
coordination issues, including proposals for continued DHA
coordination assistance in 1997. Some of the relevant
points will be incorporated into the overall UNHCR strategy
as lead-agency for humanitarian assistance and related
coordination.
13. UN Agencies have begun to elaborate strategies for
assistance in 1997, which will be finalised in the next few
weeks. UNHCR discussed its strategy in a Heads of Office
meeting and Heads of Unit Meeting (BiH), both held in
Sarajevo on 18-19 and 24 September, respectively. In broad
terms, UNHCR envisages a gradual phasing down of direct
humanitarian assistance during 1997, increased targeting of
that assistance to the most vulnerable population groups,
continued focus on Target Return Areas, consideration of
other approaches as appropriate for return and
reintegration of displaced and refugees, increased emphasis
on authorities compliance with basic human rights and
rights of minorities and linkage to assistance,
establishing closer links with the reconstruction,
rehabilitation and development organisations during the
transition period, local capacity building, support of
approaches for family income generation and playing more of
a catalytic role in all aspects of assistance activities.
UNHCR will give even greater emphasis to protection issues
and overall coordination with a variety of international
actors. The levels of budget and details of programmes will
be elaborated in the coming few weeks.
14. Meetings are planned with the major rehabilitation,
reconstruction and development organisations to assess
the level of expected investments in various sectors by
those organisations, which will be important in planning
for some activities and levels of assistance requested by
UN organisations in the next Appeal.
15. WFP has also elaborated, in draft form, a revised
strategy for food assistance for the remainder of 1996
and for 1997. Although the strategy has yet to be
finalised, it is clear that there is general agreement
for the approach proposed. It envisages WFP taking over
full responsibility for the food aid programme in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, consolidation of food aid activities,
improving the selection of beneficiaries based on need
and vulnerability, increasing support to projects that
promote economic rehabilitation, employment generation
and household food security, and enabling local
authorities to better access and manage resources to
implement national social assistance programmes. These
efforts are expected to lead to a significant reduction
in international relief food assistance to BiH by the end
of 1997.
MEETINGS
16. During this reporting period, I attended the UNHCR
Head of Officer Meeting (chaired by the UNHCR Special
Envoy) in Sarajevo and provided DHA perspectives on
inter-agency coordination issues for the remainder of
1996 and some thinking for 1997. I met with Mr. Alexander
Sannikov (UNESCO, Paris) and Mr. Colin Kaiser (Head of
Officer, UNESCO, BiH) to discuss the plans for the
upcoming Consolidated Appeal. I also met with UNICEF
representatives and discussed the upcoming Appeal, as
well as with Mr. Richard Kocher, Head of IOM, BiH. In
view that UNICEF senior staff will be unable to attend
the 7-8 October inter-agency meeting in Sarajevo due to a
large UNICEF regional meeting in Geneva, it was agreed
that DHA and UNHCR will meet separately with UNICEF in
Sarajevo prior to the meeting to discuss details of the
Appeal preparation, to receive UNICEF views and to
reflect those views on UNICEF s behalf in the 7-8 October
meeting. I also met with Mr. Eric Demul, UNDP Resident
Representative to discuss various aspects of the UNDP
programme and future plans. I also met with senior staff
of IMG to discuss the Target Area Approach reports
currently under preparation. I attended the Industry Task
Force Meeting, chaired by USAID and met regularly with
the Special Envoy, Deputy Special Envoy, other senior
staff of UNHCR and the Deputy SRSG to discuss various
issues related to strategies and programmes by the
humanitarian organisations.
17. I also met with Mr. Claus Elden of the Danish
Embassy, Mr. Hans Glaubitz, Charge d Affaires,
Netherlands Embassy, a meeting in which we discussed the
DHA role in Bosnia and the Region and Mr. David
Arrington, Consultant, USAID, who is working on plans for
USAID infrastructure assistance for 1997.
18. The DHA SHAO will visit E. Slavonia on 25-26
September to discuss coordination issues with UNTAES,
UNHCR, other UN organisations and major NGOs operating in
the region.
19. The reporting period marked the departure of Mr.
Soren Jessen-Petersen, UNHCR Special Envoy, on 19
September. Mr. Jessen-Petersen is returning to his post
as Head of the UNHCR Office in New York. He will be
replaced by Mr. Carol Faubert, who will assume the
Special Envoy s responsibilities as Director of
Operations for the Region beginning on 3 October.
---------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - SARAJEVO
Mr. Paul Hebert
Tel.:(387 71) 48 31 05
Fax:(387 71) 44 78 68
COMPLEX EMERGENCY DIVISION (CED) - NEW YORK
Mr. Rashid Khalikov
Tel.:(1 212) 963.9682
Fax:(1 212) 963.3630
INTER-AGENCY SUPPORT BRANCH (IASB) - GENEVA
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Ms. Katarina Toll
Tel.:(41 22) 788.6381
Fax:(41 22) 788.6386
PRESS TO CONTACT (DHA-GENEVA)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.:(41 22) 917.2856
Fax:(41 22) 917.0023
Telex:414242 DHA CH
E-Mail: dhagva at dha.unicc.org