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Main objectives

Build on positive political and social developments and continue to promote the return of internally displaced persons and refugees; promote local inte- gration of especially vulnerable displaced persons who cannot return to their pre-war homes; main- tain a field presence in strategic locations in order to monitor the protection of returnees; provide legal assistance and advice through the national Legal Aid and Information Centres and strengthen the network of these centres; work with other international actors to promote implementation of the property law.

Press for speedy provision of housing for returnees and closure of the collective centres; assist in the development of a national asylum system, but continue in the interim to determine the status of asylum-seekers and seek durable solutions for re- fugees.

Impact

• 107,000 returns, including 37,000 former refugees from (BiH) returned home. This represents an increase for the fourth consecutive year. 1,600 persons voluntarily • While building the capacity of local institutions, repatriated to from BiH with UNHCR UNHCR continued to carry out refugee status assistance. determination under its mandate on behalf of • By the end of 2002, 209,850 property claims had the BiH Government. As at 31 December 2002, been successfully resolved, owing in large mea- 78 asylum-seekers from third countries were sure to work on the Property Law Implementa- accommodated in Refugee Asylum Centres. tion Plan undertaken by UNHCR in partner- UNHCR also continued to be involved in the ship with the Office of the High Representative, establishment of the legislative framework for OSCE, the Commission for Real Property an effective asylum system in BiH. Claims and the United Nations Mission in BiH. • In accordance with a decision of the Council of Moreover, 28 per cent more claims were settled Ministers, UNHCR worked alongside the State in 2002 than in the previous year. Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, the • The new “Instruction on the Status of Persons Office of the High Representative, OHCHR and from and Montenegro (SiM) Admitted IOM (the Working Group), in providing sub- Temporarily in BiH” entered into force on 20 stantive comments on a new draft Law on March 2002, and extended the temporary Immigration and Asylum. admission status of the SiM refugee population for a period of 12 months, subject to re-regis- tration.

362 UNHCR Global Report 2002 Working environment of return projects. step inthedirection ofincreased localownership Refugees andDisplacedPersonswasawelcome under theaegisofStateCommissionfor process. Thecreation in2002ofaJointProject Fund involvement bythelocalauthoritiesinreturn needs inthefield.UNHCRnotedamore active funding mechanismstobetterrespond toactual time, majordonorshaveputinplaceflexible tion forthedonorcommunity’sfunds. At thesame widening undertheimpactofworldwidecompeti- available resources forreconstruction hasbeen However, thegapbetweenhousingneedsand BiH in2002comfortablyexceededthe2001figure. return. Thenumberofreturns from, toandwithin to concentrateonthepromotion ofsustainable Framework Agreement forPeace,UNHCRcontinued for theimplementationof Annex VIIoftheGeneral In accordance withitsmandateastheleadagency The context slmsees40404 41 - - - - 48 ------460 - - 20 - - - - - 32 - - 460 - - - 50 2 1 - 690 - - 730 52 - 1,020 840 - 940 - 2,180 - 1,140 2,480 4,440 367,500 Asylum-seekers 22,000 2,180 (from USA) Returnees (from Austria) Returnees 6,000 (from Denmark) Returnees 70,800 (from Norway) Returnees (from Germany) Returnees 16,700 (from Sweden) Returnees (from Croatia) Returnees Serbia andMontenegro (Refugees) (from SerbiaandMontenegro) Returnees Croatia (Refugees) (formerIDPs) Returnees IDPs anOii oa O hmPrcn Per cent Percent under18 Ofwhom Female UNHCRassisted Total InCountry Type ofPopulation Main Origin/ The abovefigures donotincludecostsatHeadquarters. Includes allocationsbyUNHCRfrom unearmarkedorbroadly earma Includes incomefrom contributionsrestricted atthecountryle eie ugtContributions Revised Budget 24721737361,9,9 0249320,198,372 20,204,943 12,897,597 7,307,346 22,407,231 noefo te ud oa ud Total Total Funds Other Funds Income from Income andExpenditure(USD) Annual ProgrammeBudget 1 Persons ofConcern vel. rked contributions,openingbalanceandadjustments. Available together coalitionsandgovernments. in thefollowingmonthsasleadersbegantoput Little couldbeaccomplishedonthepoliticalfront Entity Levels.Theturnoutwasdisappointing. out BiHtoformnewgovernmentsattheStateand In earlyOctober2002,electionswere heldthrough- at thesametime,continuedtoworkcloselywith UNHCR strongly condemnedthoseincidentsand, In 2002,some430securityincidentswere reported. the overalleconomicdevelopmentofBiH. sustainability –willbeincreasingly dependenton Further progress onreturns –andtheirultimate opportunities, especiallyoutsideurbanareas. exacerbated byextremely limitedemployment momentum ofreturn. Thesituationwasfurther available resources hadadampingeffect onthe returns, thegapbetweenreconstruction needsand ing amore favourableenvironment forminority Although muchprogress hasbeenmadeincreat- Constraints 2 vial Expenditure Available UNHCR GlobalReport 2002 363

Bosnia and Herzegovina the authorities in order to ensure that more appro- UNHCR continues under its mandate to submit the priate measures were put in place to prevent any claims of recognised refugees for resettlement to recurrence. Landmines are still a danger, particu- third countries. During the course of 2002, UNHCR larly along the Entity boundaries, and hamper the facilitated the resettlement of 30 refugees who had economic recovery of rural areas. been forced to leave their homes outside the region. At the end of 2002, the asylum applications Funding of 457 persons were at various stages of refugee status determination. In 2002, the UNHCR programme in BiH once again faced funding shortfalls, which had an adverse Together with other members of the international effect on implementation at the field level. Some community, UNHCR maintained its involvement 13 per cent of the ExCom approved operational in the process of setting up asylum institutions budget remained unmet. Consequently, implement- (and the necessary accompanying legal frame- ing partners could not be assured of the eventual work). An extended programme of training activi- availability of budgeted project funds. The overall ties on asylum-related issues was held for national support eventually provided thus represented only and international officials. Some of these activities a fraction of the resources required to assist the were undertaken with the direct participation of large number of returnees. the authorities and other institutions such as the Council of .

Achievements and impact Activities and assistance

Protection and solutions Community services: Quick Support Funds (QSF) have been designed to facilitate sustainable mino- The steady increase in the number of recorded returns rity returns through the provision of immediate is partly attributable to increasingly successful and crucial support to extremely vulnerable indi- implementation of the property law. UNHCR has viduals and/or groups in minority return areas. been instrumental in pushing the process of the During 2002, 331 micro-projects were implemented Property Law Implementation Plan forward, in for 23,455 direct beneficiaries. The Foundation of concert with other international and local actors. Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Initiative was UNHCR, together with OHR and OSCE, has also seen officially registered in October 2002, and UNHCR progress on issues affecting the sustainability of provided operational costs for its Secretariat. returns: non-discriminatory access of returnees to pensions, education, health care and utility services. Domestic needs/household support: In the course of 2002, the following domestic items were distri- UNHCR continued to identify durable solutions buted: 9,734 beds (of which 3,819 were from Bosnia and Herzegovina for SiM refugees. Over the course of 2002, UNHCR previous stocks), 22,138 blankets (from available worked in co-operation with BiH authorities and stock), 4,331 stoves (of which 910 from stock), IOM to establish an organised voluntary repatria- 10,996 mattresses (from available stock), and 54,600 tion programme for refugees and asylum-seekers square metres of plastic sheeting (of which 37,660 from SiM. While progress in this area has been square metres from stock). modest, a start has been made, with more than 150 persons applying for voluntary repatriation in the Food: Food was provided to beneficiaries in the second half of 2002. A few problems over authori- Refugee Asylum Centres and Transit Centres (TCs, sation to return (from the SiM authorities) have yet which are maintained by the Federation Ministry to be resolved before voluntary repatriation can of Social Affairs, Displaced Persons and Refugees). become a straightforward option for all who want to return. UNHCR facilitated the resettlement of Health/nutrition: UNHCR provided basic first aid 206 SiM refugees to third countries in the course of units for the TCs. UNHCR also covered some costs 2002. In the absence of a fully functioning asylum associated with medical services for refugees and system and realistic prospects of local integration, asylum-seekers.

364 UNHCR Global Report 2002 mobile legalteams,whichreached themostremote were assistedthrough 36legalaidcentres and18 administrative staff. Beneficiariesthroughout BiH legal staff, 35informationandfieldofficers and34 international andtwolocalNGOs,employed89 tegration process. Thenetwork,consistingofthree to UNHCRduringthereturn, relocation, andrein- assistance andinformationforpersonsofconcern The centres remain theprimarysource offree legal role incarryingoutUNHCRprotection activities. Information Centres continuedtoplayanimportant Legal assistance: belongings totheirplaces oforigin. ilies alsorequired transportationoftheirpersonal homes; theseparticularly vulnerable returnee fam- ported 485familiestotheirreconstructed pre-war tion oftheroute. At thesametime,UNHCRtrans- in Julyfollowingthelong-awaitedcommercialisa- six monthsoftheyear. Thisservicewasterminated carried 8,722passengersinthecourseoffirst cross-border busline,--Trebinje, (25,930 passengersbyDecember2002).Theonly organised assessmentvisits topriorityareas ofreturn the service.Thesebuslinesreduced theneedfor totalof21,734passengersused latter halfof2002. A in thefirsthalfof2002;onlyoneremained inthe supporting thereturn ofminoritieswere operational Transport/logistics: lasting solutionsforsome292residents. projects, (includinghouserepairs) toprovide UNHCR andagovernmentdonorcompleted91 ational inBiH.Duringthecourseofyear, lective centres with3,023residents remained oper- Shelter/other infrastructure: UNHCR BiHwebsite. tion ofSiMrefugees andthelaunchingofnew launched byUNHCRinSiM,themassre-registra- ities were: information activitiesduring2002. Among theactiv- engaged inanumberofpublicawareness andpublic Operational support(toagencies): new beneficiariesin81,864return-related cases. different areas. In2002,thenetworkassisted the implementationoflegislationinmore with legalanalysisandinformationontrends in regions ofthecountry. Thenetworkprovided UNHCR support totheregional return campaign The networkofLegal Aid and Three inter-Entity buslines At year’s end,46col- At year’s UNHCR was than 20 63,519 Stabilisation (CARDS)programme forBiH. Assistance forReconstruction, Development, and EU, particularlyintheframeworkofitsCommunity UNHCR workedandcontinuestoworkwiththe topics forconsideration. rights andreturn-related issuesoftenfeature as the advantagesofjointprogramming. Human of theUNResidentCo-ordinator, seekto maximise Team where UN Agencies, underthechairmanship UNHCR isanactivememberoftheUNCountry tive centres. displaced personsaswelltheresidents ofcollec- Ministries haveassistedreturning refugees and and DisplacedPersonsintheFederation.Thetwo Srpska andtheFederalMinistryforSocial Affairs for RefugeesandDisplacedPersonsinRepublika UNHCR’s implementingpartnerswere theMinistry Ministry inthecourseof2002. At theEntitylevel, considerable supportandcapacity-buildingtothe Human RightsandRefugees.UNHCRprovided project implementingpartnerwastheMinistryfor At theStatelevel,UNHCR’smaincounterpartand ture attheregional level. nence. UNHCRparticipatesinananalogousstruc- and reconstruction issueshavebeengivenpromi- country are discussedatthismeeting,andreturn High Representative. Themainpoliciesofthe weekly Board ofPrincipalsmeetingchaired bythe UNHCR BiHhasbeenaregular memberofthe UN humanitarianagencyfacilitatingreturns, five localNGOsandthree ministries. As thelead implementing partners:nineinternationalNGOs, UNHCR closelycollaboratedwithatotalof17 Working withothers of 172staff in14remaining offices. and 55postsdiscontinued,leavingayear-end total In thecourseof2002,sixUNHCRoffices were closed Management and implementation Organisation UNHCR GlobalReport 2002 365

Bosnia and Herzegovina network of LAICs. Constant liaison with other actors and active participation within the existing co- bodies contributed positively to the ordination achievements of UNHCR’s objectives. of advocate, was its role One of UNHCR’s strengths to make local authorities and in particular its efforts for their decisions and its support for responsible and State institutions. This inter-Entity strengthened success of bearing on the work will have a crucial in 2003. projects return The implementation of UNHCR’s programme of an overall as a result faced serious difficulties to a certain were shortfall of funds. These difficulties extent mitigated by UNHCR’s constant re- UNHCR / R. Chalasani UNHCR Global Report 2002 geting of beneficiary groups for humanitarian geting of beneficiary groups overall funding assistance. The year 2002 saw a 366 record number of registered returns. From this it From returns. number of registered record that UNHCR amply achieved its may be inferred This minority returns. objective of promoting accu- more through achieved largely was progress rate tar QSFs), enhanced advocacy assistance (through close monitoring of the implementation of efforts, Laws, and extensive dissemination of the Property legal advice and information via the established Overall assessment For international actors, 2002 was a year in which co-operation in the implementation to strengthen Agreement Annex VII of the General Framework of for Peace, particularly within the context of declin- ing Reconstructed village after the war. Reconstructed village after the war.

Bosnia and Herzegovina responsibilities underthe1951Convention. Human RightsandRefugeestoassumeBiH’s ening ofthecapacityStateMinistryfor Progress wasalsonotedinregard tothestrength- focusing onpriorityneeds. allocate thelimitedfundsandhumanresources, assistance, allowingittoeffectively andflexibly assessment ofreturn movementsandthestatusof Visegrad Trebinje (closed30/06/2002) (closed30/06/2002) Orasje Lukavica/Pale (closed31/03/2002) (closed30/06/2002) Gorazde (closed30/09/2002) (closed30/09/2002) (Brcko) Bihac UNVs Swiss HumanitarianAidUnit Others Save theChildren Federation(USA) Project Implementation Unit–Housing Mercy Corps Scotland Malteser Hilfsdienst Iustitia RescueCommittee International CouncilofVoluntaryInternational Agencies Hilfswerk Austria Helsinki CitizensAssembly–Job22 Genesis Project European CommitteeforTraining andAgriculture LogistickiServis Bosanski Humanitarni American RefugeeCommittee NGOs Ministry forRefugeesandDisplacedPersonsof Ministry forHumanRightsandRefugees and Refugees Federation MinistryofSocialAffairs, DisplacedPersons Agencies Government UNHCR GlobalReport 2002 Partners Offices 367

Bosnia and Herzegovina rojects notes Annual Programme BudgetAnnual Programme Budget Annual Programme Financial Report (USD) Financial UNHCR Global Report 2002 Figures which cross-reference to Accounts: which cross-reference Figures (1) Annex to Statement 1 (3) Schedule 3 (5) Schedule 5 CancellationsOutstanding 31 December 221,391 (3) 0 0 (5) 93,584 (5) Outstanding 1st JanuaryNew ObligationsDisbursements 0 20,198,372 19,976,981 (1) (3) 390,626 297,042 0 (5) (5) Outstanding 31 DecemberUnliquidated Obligations 1,944,203 0 Outstanding 1st JanuaryRefunded to UNHCR AdjustmentCurrency 0 0 0 3,898,443 278,349 (27,529) Reporting ReceivedBalance 7,126,556 1,944,203 3,634,545 (3,592,566) Instalments with Implementing Partners Payments Made 9,070,760 41,979 Total 20,198,372 (1) (3)297,042 Sub-total Disbursements / DeliveriesUnliquidated Obligations20,198,372 Total (1) 19,976,981 (3) 221,391 297,042 (3) (5) 0 Instalments with Implementing PartnersSub-total Operational Support Programme 1,944,203 16,611,694 3,365,287 (3,592,566) 239,784 57,258 Transport / LogisticsTransport AccountTransit 737,665 22,313 220,619 (19,319) Legal Assistance Agencies)Operational Support (to Shelter / Other Infrastructure 1,438,940 1,063,292 1,649,987 415,533 473,662 632,000 FoodHealth / NutritionIncome Generation 27,860 518,384 0 15,475 781,047 43,009 Community ServicesCommunity ProductionCrop SupportDomestic Needs / Household 621,295 3,051,501 0 77,099 1,089,491 36,858 Protection, Monitoring and Co-ordination Monitoring Protection, 5,536,254 66,876 Expenditure BreakdownExpenditure Projects Year’s Current notes P Prior Years’ 368

Bosnia and Herzegovina