FY 2009 TAFT FUND FOR REFUGEES - CROATIA PROJECTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000301

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM/ECA, BELGRADE FOR REFUGEE ASSISTANT KURIC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM EAID HR
SUBJECT: FY 2009 TAFT FUND FOR REFUGEES - CROATIA PROJECTS


1. (U) Post is pleased to propose its submission for project funding
through the Julia V. Taft Fund for Refugees FY 2009.
Our two-part project aims to provide assistance to aid in the
reintegration and sustainable return of primarily ethnic Serb
returnees in disadvantaged and isolated regions of Croatia that were
heavily affected by the war in the 1990s. This project will
accelerate the return process by providing needed financial
assistance to returnees navigating the cumbersome administrative
process of return and will contribute to sustainability of return by
providing increased access to medical and social care for elderly
and infirm returnees. The combined budget for both aspects of the
project is 20,000 USD. The duration of the project activities is
approximately nine months.


2. (U) PART ONE - ACCELERATING THE RETURN PROCESS THROUGH RESOLUTION
OF CITIZENSHIP CLAIMS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Refugees wishing to come back to Croatia often face a number of
administrative challenges on their path toward return. Refugees who
were born in other republics of the former Yugoslavia face
additional obstacles to return because they must also apply for
Croatian citizenship. Under current regulations these people must
file requests for temporary residence, permanent residence, and
eventually citizenship. Each of these steps along the way requires
administrative fees which are insurmountable for some returnees due
to old age, unemployment, and limited resources.

Those refugees who wish to apply for housing care assistance and who
are already Croatian citizens, but who are currently living in other
countries of the former Yugoslavia must also pay fees to obtain
supporting documents such as birth certificates, certificates of
citizenship, land registry documents, and tax documents. Many times
these documents must be gotten by proxy as the refugees no longer
lives in Croatia and do not have the means to travel here.

For many of the most needy returnees these fees prove to be too high
and obstacles towards their return and integration.

In order to advance the return process the NGO Serb Democratic Forum
(SDF) is providing support to socially vulnerable returnees through
the project "Free Legal Aid, Promotion and Protection of Human
Rights." SDF is one of the oldest and most respected champions of
refugee, returnee, minority and human rights in Croatia. Through
this project the SDF shepherds applicants through the administrative
process of returning to Croatia. As a supplement to this already
existing project the SDF is requesting funding to pay for the
administrative and document fees for those beneficiaries most in
need of financial assistance. The Taft grant will assist
approximately 50 beneficiaries/households from the most war affected
parts of the country (areas near the Bosnian and Serbian borders).
The SDF estimates the cost of assistance will be approximately
10,000 USD. The project duration will last nine months. Without
this necessary funding many of these beneficiaries may abandon their
right to return.

A copy of SDF's code of conduct will be sent by follow-on e-mail.


3. (U) PART TWO - SUSTAINING RETURNS THROUGH TRANSPORTATION FOR
ELDERLY AND INFIRM RETURNEES IN SISAK COUNTY

Local NGO Our Life currently provides medical and social care
assistance to approximately 200 elderly and/or infirm refugee
returnee beneficiaries in the city of Petrinja and 55 surrounding
villages in the Sisak County area (an area of special state
concern). The majority of beneficiaries live alone with no family
support network and limited retirement benefits. In many villages
beneficiaries do not have basic services such as phone, running
water and in some cases electricity. Public transportation is
limited or not available.

Our Life aims to improve the quality of life for this vulnerable
group by providing in-house medical exams and rehabilitation
treatment by medical professionals, transportation to doctor
appointments and delivery of prescriptions. The NGO also organizes
food delivery and assists in meal preparation, cleaning and yard
maintenance, personal hygiene (bathing and putting on clothes),and
basic socialization to prevent isolation and loneliness.

The NGO has nine permanent employees and 20 volunteers. The NGO only
has two vehicles for employees to service all 200 beneficiaries in
Petrinja and the surrounding 55 villages. One of the vehicles is a
25 year old Golf which frequently breaks down and is unusable for
those beneficiaries who are disabled. The lack of reliable
transportation severely limits the services this NGO is able to
provide to this most vulnerable group of returning refugees. This

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project will allow for the purchase of a newer used mini-van capable
of transporting infirm beneficiaries including those who are in
wheelchairs. Our Life estimates that the cost of such a vehicle
would be approximately 10,000 USD.

The provision of a reliable vehicle will allow Our Life to visit
more returnees on a more frequent basis and provide the vital
medical and social care that these refugees do not have access too.
Any vehicle purchased through the use of Taft fund grants will be
marked and identified as a gift from the U.S. government.

A copy of Our Life's code of conduct will be sent by follow-on
e-mail.

BRADTKE