Regional Housing Programme sees first project successfully completed

The first Regional Housing Programme (RHP) project has been successfully completed in Croatia and keys have been handed over to beneficiary families at an inauguration ceremony attended by stakeholders and representatives of the international donor community.

One year after construction work began, an apartment building with the capacity to house 29 families was completed in Korenica, Croatia. The project, 75% of which was financed by the RHP Fund and 25% by the Republic of Croatia, cost a total of €1.4 million and was completed on schedule. To mark the occasion, the State Office for Reconstruction and Housing Care organised on 16 September an inauguration ceremony.

Mirela Stanic-Popovic, Head of the State Office for Reconstruction and Housing Care, unveiled a commemorative plaque at the entrance of the building and handed over the keys to the new tenants. Most of them are returnees from Serbia and elderly persons residing in the collective centre of Golubic.

Rolf Wenzel, Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) which manages the RHP, welcomed this important step and said: “This is excellent news. As more projects are expected to be completed, we will be delighted to see more housing solutions delivered to beneficiaries under the RHP in the near future.”

Jerry Kalarickal, Programme Officer for the Balkans, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, U.S. Department of State, who attended the inauguration ceremony, stated: “This is a milestone achievement for the RHP thanks to the efforts of all stakeholders, particularly the Partner Countries. We hope that the event today serves as a symbol of what can be achieved through regional cooperation.”

Also attending the ceremony was Andrew Mayne, the UNHCR’s Regional Representative for South-Eastern Europe, who congratulated Croatia on this important achievement and warmly welcomed the new tenants.