Over 2,700 people from 45 municipalities and cities in Bosnia were provided with safe housing solutions, while 204 families received economic empowerment support packages through Flood Recovery – Housing Interventions Programme, financed by the European Union with €12.5 million, the EU Delegation to Bosnia said on Thursday.

Since the start of the Programme, 335 new houses were built, while almost 600 housing units were rehabilitated to create adequate living conditions for socially and economically vulnerable households.

Families who fulfilled conditions for additional economic support, 204 of them, have an opportunity to secure sustainable and stable sources of income for themselves, in accordance with their needs and capacities, through agricultural production or self-employment.

Beneficiaries of agriculture production packages received greenhouse with accompanying equipment and raw materials, beehives and equipment for beekeeping, small agricultural machinery, equipment and materials for corn sowing. All beneficiaries of the economic empowerment are provided with mentoring and expert advisory services helping them achieve the best results possible.

The Flood Recovery – Housing Interventions Programme represents the next phase in the European Union’s efforts to alleviate the catastrophic effects of the 2014 floods. The Programme, valued at EUR 15 million, is funded by the European Union in the amount of EUR 12.5 million, in cooperation with the entity governments of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), Republika Srpska (RS), UNDP in BiH and partner local governments. The Programme is implemented in 45 municipalities in BiH by UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), Hilfswerk International (HWI).