Through Flood Recovery Programme, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in BiH, twelve families from Ugljevik municipality welcomed this winter in new houses, after their previous homes were destroyed during 2014 floods and landslides. Dušanka and Ivan are among almost 3.000 people in 45 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina who were provided with durable housing solutions through this Programme.

„I lived in a house on a landslide that always threatened to collapse“, says 67-year old Ivan Mičić from Donja Trnova near Ugljevik, who is retired. After new house was built through Programme, Ivan and his wife Dušanka moved into their safe haven in 2020. „It is nice to live the new house. It is warm. It is great“ adds Ivan.

New houses were built by the highest standards and all families have received two-year guarantee on all construction works. New housing units consist of living room with kitchen, hallway, bathroom and bedrooms. Number of bedrooms depends on the number of household members. 

Family of 40-year old Nataša Kostić also replaced their old, landslide damaged house with a new home. “We would never be able to afford this, under these conditions and in these times” says Nataša who lives with husband, mother-in-law and two sons. Comparing the old and new house, Nataša immediately mentions warmth. “House is warmer, it is much easier to warm it than the old house. And it is safer” adds Nataša.

Besides these twelve new houses, additional four housing units will be constructed in Ugljevik through Flood Recovery Programme in the first half of 2021.

Flood Recovery – Housing Interventions Programme provides support to self-sustainable recovery through durable housing solutions, coupled with improved livelihood opportunities, for the most vulnerable people whose homes were damaged or destroyed in 2014 floods and landslides. Programme, valued at EUR 15 million, is financed by the European Union in the amount of EUR 12.5 million, in cooperation with Government of FBiH, Government of RS and partner municipalities and cities.

Programme is implemented by UNDP in BiH together with International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), Hilfswerk International (HWI) and partner municipalities and cities.