KM 500,000 Allocated for Building New Houses

Director of the Federal Fund for Assistance to Disaster-Stricken Areas Jasmin Jaganjac spoke in Orašje with the Prime Minister of the Posavina Canton Government Marijan Oršolić and the Mayor of Orašje Municipality Đuro Topić about the initiative to reconstruct the Sava and Bosna river embankments, and the Fund's assistance in the amount of KM 500,000 each for the construction of new houses to replace those completely destroyed in the recent floods in the Posavina, Tuzla, and Zenica-Doboj Cantons, reports the Patria News Agency (NAP).

The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted the initiative for the reconstruction of the Sava and Bosna river embankments, and an official letter to the European Commission is in process to secure funds for this purpose.

 - So far, the consequences of the catastrophic floods have been removed, and this will continue, but it is time to start addressing the causes, i.e., strengthening the embankments. Reconstruction requires at least KM 25 million. We are coordinating with the Water Management Agency for the Sava River Basin, which suggests increasing the amount by about seven million marks, making a total of KM 32 million. Specifically, drainage canals and pumping stations also need to be repaired – said Jaganjac.

One of the topics was also the work done so far on repairing houses based on the initiative from October 15 and the meeting held in Zenica with the three prime ministers of the cantonal governments (Posavina, Tuzla, and Zenica-Doboj Cantons).

It was then agreed, and the Fund's Management Board accepted, that these cantons would be allocated KM 500,000 each, exclusively for the construction of destroyed houses that cannot be repaired.

Jaganjac informed Prime Minister Oršolić that the allocated amount would be disbursed by Wednesday. The Fund Director emphasized that he is going to Brussels on November 24 for a meeting with donor representatives. The project for repairing the Sava and Bosna river embankments will be discussed there, and expectations are that it will be recognized as a priority.

- Regarding the post-flood reconstruction, we are doing everything within our limited budgetary capabilities, and I believe that the reconstruction will last at least another two or three years. We also discussed other current issues related to the repair of river embankments and how to solve this pressing life problem for the people of Posavina – said the Prime Minister of the Posavina Canton Government Oršolić.