Bosnia-Herzegovina - DHA-10: 25 September - 9 October 1996

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Humanitarian Situation
Report No. 10, 14 October 1996
Covering the Period 25 September - 9 October 1996

FROM THE DHA SENIOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER
OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE SECRETARY GENERAL SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA



GENERAL HUMANITARIAN SITUATION  
 
1.  Against the backdrop of completed national elections  
and the inaugural session of the National Assembly held the  
past weekend, the attention of the humanitarian
organisations in the region is focused on completion of
emergency reconstruction and rehabilitation work, 
winterization efforts for the most vulnerable population  
groups, assessment of the status of programmes three 
quarters of the way through the year, planning for 1997 and  
defining continued work in support for national and local 
institutions, in view of their changing structure and
composition as the new joint institutions are constituted,
 
2.  The continued slow pace of returns of refugees and
displaced persons, compounded by the lack of government
infrastructure and funds also means that assistance to
vulnerable populations (particularly those
institutionalized and in collective centres) will continue
to be needed especially through the winter, This is the
case, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but as well as in  
parts of Croatia (E. Slavonia in particular) and in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, where nearly 600,000 
refugees from BiH and Croatia remain.
 
HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES AND REPORTING
 
3.WFP has begun its programme to better target food
assistance to the most vulnerable population groups, This 
will be a gradual process, and initially WFP is consulting
with local authorities to discuss new procedures and 
criteria for selection of beneficiaries, It is expected
that by the end of 1996, the new target figure for food
beneficiaries in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be
approximately 2,5 million, which will then be reduced
gradually during 1997 to cover only the most vulnerable
populations by the end of 1997, This will mean that, at
least for the winter period, substantial food assistance  
will continue to be provided to a large portion of the
population in the country, A similar strategy is envisaged
for E. Slavonia and for FRY. 
 
4.Activities of other UN Agencies have continued, in
some cases with adjustments due to funding shortfalls,
UNHCR, due to a significant expected funding shortfall for
its programmes, will not enter into new sub-agreements for
the remainder of 1996, but will concentrate on completion 
of ongoing projects and deliveries, In this regard, HCR
estimates that it will complete approximately 20,000 
shelter units by the end of the year, dispersing between  
USD 58-60 million in this sector alone.
 
5.Reports on the situation related to shelter and 
infrastructure work in the Target Areas (TRAs) is currently  
being prepared by IMG, The first four detailed reports
covering TRAs in the Zenica, Tuzla, Bihac and Mostar Areas
should be completed by next week. Information on the 
situation in the _Anvil_ is now also available. Reports on
Sarajevo and Gorazde will follow these. In addition, the  
SHAO is compiling information on donor, UN and other 
contributions towards activities in the target areas, which  
should also be completed shortly. UNHCR, in addition, will
be compiling, with its implementing partners, information 
related to returnees to these areas, as well as to other  
areas in the coming weeks.
 
6.UNHCR is also preparing an information report to
assist the Government of Germany and other European asylum
countries to assess the situation in specific cantons and 
municipalities related to the possible return of refugees 
from Europe in the near future. This report will analyze  
the physical situation in specific areas, socio-economic  
situation as well as to provide a realistic view on  
problems and constraints faced in initiating returns at
this time.
 
7.The draft implementation report covering the UN 
Humanitarian Programmes up to the end of August 1996 is
currently being finalised in Geneva and will be released  
next week. As reported in the latest DHA Report on the
funding situation for the region, a total of 54 percent of
the adjusted requirements of USD 800 million for the entire  
region has been made available for programmes in 1996 thus
far. The shortfalls vary considerably between Agencies and
has meant that some programmes have had to be adjusted as 
indicated above. Details of the programmes and activities 
are described in the implementation report.  
 
VISITS AND MEETINGS  
 
8.  The SHAO visited E. Slavonia on 25-26 September at the
request of UNTAES to assess the current coordination 
arrangements between UN Agencies, NGOs and other  
organisations, primarily related to humanitarian  
activities. A report of the visit was prepared and provided  
to DHA, UNTAES, UNHCR and UNMIBH. The major conclusions of
the assessment were: 1) the current humanitarian  
coordination arrangements led by UNHCR, and centreed around  
a twice monthly coordination meeting of all relevant 
organisations, is effective and should continue. 2) the
current regular medical coordination meeting, chaired by  
WHO also is effective and should continue as well. 3)
UNTAES may wish to consider taking a more active role
within the current coordination framework. and 4) 
consideration could be given to setting up of additional  
working groups to deal with rehabilitation and
reconstruction issues as well as human rights concerns in 
which UNTAES could take the lead. During the visit, I had 
an opportunity to discuss with UNTAES, UNHCR and other
organisations some of the concerns regarding mines,  
returns, reintegration and possible future population
displacements in E. Slavonia after the return of the region  
to Croatian Government control in 1997.
 
9.DHA and UNHCR convened an inter-agency meeting in
Sarajevo on 7-8 October to discuss the preparation of the 
next Consolidated UN Inter-Agency Appeal for the region for  
1997. The inter-agency group, with representatives from
Agencies participating in the current Appeal (as well as  
observers from the World Bank and the Office of the High  
Representative), agreed that there was indeed a need for a
Consolidated Appeal for 1997 to address continuing
humanitarian needs and transition activities. The meeting 
focused on overall objectives and strategies for the 
humanitarian assistance and related activities in 1997.
 
10.  The meeting representatives identified common
objectives and areas where the UN Agencies would work
closely together and areas where work would also involve  
close cooperation and coordination with the other 
international and bi-lateral donors and organisations in  
the region, particularly those involved in rehabilitation,
reconstruction and longer-term development. We expect to  
see a general overall reduction in proposed humanitarian  
assistance budgets in 1997, increased emphasis on targeting  
the most vulnerable population groups for assistance,
concerted efforts to create conditions for voluntary 
returns of refugees and displaced persons, efforts to
support self-reliance and capacity building of local and  
regional institutions and organisations, attention to
humanitarian demining and emphasis on regional approaches 
and solutions. The format for the Appeal was discussed and
it was agreed that each agency will produce a section
detailing their activities by sector and country with the 
introduction and executive summary to be prepared by DHA  
and UNHCR. Programmes will be detailed for Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and  
the FYR of Macedonia. The schedule for preparation of the 
Appeal was also discussed and agreed to. Agency inputs are
expected to be provided to DHA and UNHCR in Geneva by 23  
October, and the Appeal is expected to be finalised and
launched by 29 November, after review and clearance by
agency headquarters. UNHCR and the DHA SHAO held a separate  
meeting with UNICEF representatives on 4 October to discuss  
the Appeal preparation, in view that a regional UNICEF
meeting in Geneva prevented UNICEF representatives from
attending the 7-8 October inter-agency meeting in Sarajevo.  

 11.The SHAO participated in a US Department of State,
 one-day Conference on Refugees and Displaced persons in 
 Sarajevo on 3 October and provided an overview of the DHA  
 coordination support activities provided to UNHCR in its
 lead agency role in the region. The SHAO (along with the
 Deputy Special Envoy, UNHCR Head of Programme for Bosnia
 and Deputy Chief of Mission, Bosnia) also participated in  
 a meeting with the World Bank and USAID-OFDA on 1 October  
 to discuss their plans for reconstruction and
 rehabilitation assistance in various sectors in 1997. We
 learned that the US Congress has not provided
 appropriations for 1997 to cover additional projects in 
 the shelter sector, but will support continued  
 infrastructure assistance. The World Bank, while
 continuing to promote investments in shelter (through
 grants from various donors), does not plan to provide
 additional funds in 1997 from it own _soft loan_ window 
 for shelter. The Bank has also noted that it will be able  
 to implement only about USD 20-25 million in shelter
 projects in 1996, with the remainder of an additional USD  
 25-30 million in projects to be carried over to 1997. The  
 Bank indicated that it will continue to seek guidance
 from UNHCR concerning areas for shelter investment. The 
 Bank indicated that they anticipate strong support by
 European donors for the shelter sector in 1997. 
 
 12.  A visit to Zagreb was undertaken on 4 October to
 consult with the Assistant Chief of Mission on plans for
 UNHCR activities in Croatia for the remainder of the year  
 and for 1997. A meeting was also held with the Head of  
 the DHA Mines Action Centre in Zagreb, Mr. Robert Kealy.
 Although the Mine Action programme plans are well in
 hand, problems were noted with regard to the slow pace of  
 receiving funds from New York to implement activities. A
 meeting with the Deputy SRSG and Head of the Mines Action  
 Centre in Sarajevo, also indicated the urgent need for a
 more flexible financing approach to allow small-scale
 humanitarian demining projects to be implemented with a 
 minimum of bureaucratic delay, including direct 
 management of a portion of available funds in Sarajevo by  
 the MAC.
 
 13.A meeting was held with a delegation from the
 Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), led by 
 Mr. Bo Elding, on 8 October, in which Mr. Arjun Katoch on  
 mission from DHA Geneva participated. SIDA indicated its
 desire to continue support to humanitarian activities in
 1997, including support to WHO, UNICEF and UNHCR. They  
 also indicated that they are ready to provide support to
 demining efforts both through bilateral support to NGOs 
 (NPA) and to DHA. They indicated that SIDA would provide
 support in the way of 2-3 experts for the DHA MAC in
 Bosnia and Herzegovina and possibly other support as
 well. They would also provide support to the shelter
 sector and for private enterprise development. Mr. Elding  
 indicated that the Swedish government expects that no
 more than approximately 10 percent of the 60,000 refugees  
 currently in Sweden will eventually opt to return to
 Bosnia and Herzegovina. They will work to support the
 return of refugees who wish to voluntarily settle in the
 former places of residence or other areas of their 
 choice. 
 
 14.The SHAO attended other routine inter-agency 
 meetings of the SRSG and Economic Task Force meetings.  
 The SHAO also provided a briefing for the new UNHCR
 Special Envoy, Mr.Carrol Faubert, who arrived to take up
 his post on 7 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 
 


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