PRM Ambassador's Fund for Refugees - Croatia Projects

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000453 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PRM/ECA: ROLSON DEPT FOR EUR/SCE: RBALIAN BELGRADE FOR NCOHEN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PGOV HR SUBJECT: PRM Ambassador's Fund for Refugees - Croatia Projects Ref: State 27884 ¶1. After consultation with UNHCR and other partners, Post is pleased to propose two projects for PRM's Ambassadors Fund for Refugees. The projects listed below do not receive other donor funding and would provide immediate assistance to vulnerable populations in Croatia. If approved, Post has the authority to award grants to intended recipients. ¶2. LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND PROVISION OF SMALL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR ROMA IN A COLLECTIVE CENTER - USD 10,000 Background: Until the end of 2006, UNHCR and two local NGOs (Serb Democratic Forum and Sisak-based Civil Rights Project) assisted Roma refugees housed in a GOC-operated collective center outside Sisak, a war-affected city. Organizations provided legal aid to regularize their status through residency permits, citizenship applications, and access to social benefits. As a result of GOC efforts to streamline and reduce the number of collective centers for more efficient administrative purposes, the center will close in June. Currently there are seven Roma families (33 persons) that have resided there since 2001. Prior to the war they lived in the Capraske poljane settlement in houses built without permits, electricity, water or sewage service. The GOC plans to offer state-owned housing to the residents by the end of the year. Recipient: NGO Civil Rights Project, Sisak. They provide free legal aid and court representation for indigent and vulnerable refugees. Until 2003 they were a part of Norwegian Refugee Council which focused on refugee-related social/poverty programs. Project: The project aims to create self-sufficiency and sustainability in this community. Since families currently are unemployed, provision of basic agricultural and household tools, vegetable seeds, and other equipment such as chainsaws will help them generate income and begin a permanent and sustainable existence. In addition, the project will provide Roma families with free legal assistance including court representation and payment of administrative fees. Families still need to regularize their residence status, which is a prerequisite to obtaining citizenship. Funds would be used to purchase tools and equipment, at a cost of approximately 7,000 USD. Administrative fees and documentation costs for citizenship-related procedures and new address fees will cost 2,400 USD. Funds will also partially support one staff person's time for the three-month project, at a cost of 600 USD. ¶3. SUPPORT TO ELDERLY RETURNEES IN DJULOVAC (WESTERN SLAVONIA) - USD 10,000 Background: The municipality of Djulovac covers 160 square kilometers and five small villages. The vast majority (90 percent) of its population are Croat settlers from Kosovo, while the remainder is ethnic Serb returnees. More than 30 per cent of the area's population is elderly. Many elderly Serb returnees have neither immediate family nor income and are extremely vulnerable. Kosovo settlers are generally younger and have extended family support. NGO "Put" has assisted elderly returnees of mixed ethnicity. This year, funding from the poorly-funded municipality has been reduced to less than 500 USD (plus provision of office space),which is insufficient for program continuation. No other organized assistance is readily available to beneficiaries (the nearest social welfare office is Daruvar). Recipient: NGO PUT is an interethnic women's organization in the war-affected area of Daruvar. The NGO provides assistance to elderly returnees and shut-ins who have recently returned despite difficult conditions and the lack of organized assistance. The NGO offers assistance with documentation, delivers medicines, maintains homes, washes laundry, prepares firewood, checks basic health care and assists with personal hygiene, and facilitates medical visits. Project: Put would assist 30 elderly returnees and settlers who live in remote villages and have no family support or income. The project will last six months, and Put will provide one hot meal daily and pay weekly and ad hoc visits to the elderly to help maintain their houses and personal hygiene and prepare firewood. They will also bring medication, check blood pressure and transport them to medical facilities. In order to achieve project sustainability, Put will include local authorities, the local national minority council, and the regional center for social welfare in the project. In coordination with the Serb Democratic Forum, a more established NGO, Put will also approach the Ministry for Veterans, Family, and Intergenerational Solidarity, which runs welfare programs for individuals with no access to or eligibility for other government social care programs with a view toward future support. Funds will be used to purchase appliances to help maintain elderly ZAGREB 00000453 002 OF 002 homes and provide meals - a washing machine and dryer, iron and a small gas stove (2,000 USD). Additionally, funds will be used to purchase expendable items for six months: non- prescription medication such as pain killers, cold medicine, etc. plus blood pressure and sugar monitoring equipment (800 USD); basic food items (1,500 USD); detergents and cleaning supplies (1,000 USD); and firewood (2,000 USD). NGO travel costs including gas, office utilities, and other administrative costs will total 1,100 USD. Sixteen Hundred USD will partially cover a program assistant's salary for the duration of the project. BRADTKE