High-level Turkish delegation visited families who moved into new homes in Buturović Polje

(Patria) - Chairman of the Board of Directors of the "Ilim Yayma" Foundation (Spreading Knowledge) Bilal Erdoğan and President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Abdullah Eren visited Buturović Polje today.

On that occasion, they also visited families who moved into new homes, the construction of which was financed by the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of Merhamet and TIKA.

Addressing the residents of Buturović Polje affected by the floods, Erdoğan said that such a disaster should never happen again and that unity was key in overcoming the consequences.



He also stated that local authorities, non-governmental organizations, and international partners, including TIKA, gathered to help repair the damage and provide support to people who lost their homes.

- We all came together to contribute to healing the wounds - Erdoğan said.

He expressed special gratitude to the Mayor of Konjic, the non-governmental sector, and all organizations that contributed to the reconstruction. Their support, he said, was crucial in the community's recovery process.

The high-level delegation of the Republic of Turkey was welcomed in Buturović Polje by the Mayor of Konjic, Osman Ćatić, who said that after the devastating floods that hit Konjic and surrounding settlements, the city faced enormous challenges.

Ćatić emphasized that numerous families were left homeless, infrastructure was damaged, and grief over lost lives enveloped the community.

He recalled that cooperation with numerous institutions and organizations was established just 48 hours after the floods, and the result of all this was the rapid construction of a container settlement for those who were left without homes.

In the following weeks, Ćatić recalled, additional assistance followed. Contracts were signed between TIKA, Merhamet, and the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, initiating the construction and equipping of new houses.

Ćatić added that families affected by the floods in Konjic are in a much better situation today than in the first days after the disaster.



Thanks to the support of numerous non-governmental organizations, the Islamic Community, Turkish partners, and domestic businessmen, many have already celebrated Bajram and Christmas in their new homes.

Initially, humanitarian organizations bore the brunt of the effort, but later state, federal, and cantonal levels of government also got involved.

Ćatić stated that the Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons launched tenders for additional projects, and contracts were recently signed that will enable the remaining families to get a permanent roof over their heads.

- Kindness is the purpose and goal of life, and gratitude goes to everyone who helped - emphasized Mayor Ćatić.

He also stressed that special attention was paid to education and that all children from the affected areas received scholarships, regardless of whether they attend primary school, high school, or university.