Spahić: RS Government paid less money to Merhamet, public kitchens endangered

BANJA LUKA, (Patria) - The government of the BiH entity Republika Srpska paid Merhamet only 60 percent of the funds, out of the planned 130 thousand KM for 2018, which endangers the work of this humanitarian organization in that part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We are particularly dissatisfied with the allocation of funds to Merhamet organizations in Bosanska Dubica, Banja Luka, and Bosanski Novi, which include soup kitchens feeding more than 500 users of all nationalities," Jasmin Spahić, director of the Merhamet Regional Board Banja Luka, told Patria agency.

"A total of 23 thousand KM was allocated to three soup kitchens, although this amount is not enough for even one kitchen," said Spahić, adding that such an attitude from the authorities in the BiH entity Republika Srpska threatens the closure of public kitchens. 

"If people and organizations from BiH and the diaspora do not help us, the users of the kitchens will be left without meals," Spahić added.