VZCZCXRO4817
PP RUEHPOD
DE RUEHVB #0301/01 1481238
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281238Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9252
INFO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1096
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0045
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 6455
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0611
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0325

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000301 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PRM/ECA, BELGRADE FOR REFUGEE ASSISTANT KURIC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM EAID HR
SUBJECT: FY 2009 TAFT FUND FOR REFUGEES - CROATIA PROJECTS 
 
¶1. (U) Post is pleased to propose its submission for project funding 
through the Julia V. Taft Fund for Refugees FY 2009. 
Our two-part project aims to provide assistance to aid in the 
reintegration and sustainable return of primarily ethnic Serb 
returnees in disadvantaged and isolated regions of Croatia that were 
heavily affected by the war in the 1990s. This project will 
accelerate the return process by providing needed financial 
assistance to returnees navigating the cumbersome administrative 
process of return and will contribute to sustainability of return by 
providing increased access to medical and social care for elderly 
and infirm returnees. The combined budget for both aspects of the 
project is 20,000 USD. The duration of the project activities is 
approximately nine months. 
 
¶2. (U) PART ONE - ACCELERATING THE RETURN PROCESS THROUGH RESOLUTION 
OF CITIZENSHIP CLAIMS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE 
 
Refugees wishing to come back to Croatia often face a number of 
administrative challenges on their path toward return.  Refugees who 
were born in other republics of the former Yugoslavia face 
additional obstacles to return because they must also apply for 
Croatian citizenship.  Under current regulations these people must 
file requests for temporary residence, permanent residence, and 
eventually citizenship. Each of these steps along the way requires 
administrative fees which are insurmountable for some returnees due 
to old age, unemployment, and limited resources. 
 
Those refugees who wish to apply for housing care assistance and who 
are already Croatian citizens, but who are currently living in other 
countries of the former Yugoslavia must also pay fees to obtain 
supporting documents such as birth certificates, certificates of 
citizenship, land registry documents, and tax documents. Many times 
these documents must be gotten by proxy as the refugees no longer 
lives in Croatia and do not have the means to travel here. 
 
For many of the most needy returnees these fees prove to be too high 
and obstacles towards their return and integration. 
 
In order to advance the return process the NGO Serb Democratic Forum 
(SDF) is providing support to socially vulnerable returnees through 
the project "Free Legal Aid, Promotion and Protection of Human 
Rights."  SDF is one of the oldest and most respected champions of 
refugee, returnee, minority and human rights in Croatia. Through 
this project the SDF shepherds applicants through the administrative 
process of returning to Croatia.  As a supplement to this already 
existing project the SDF is requesting funding to pay for the 
administrative and document fees for those beneficiaries most in 
need of financial assistance.  The Taft grant will assist 
approximately 50 beneficiaries/households from the most war affected 
parts of the country (areas near the Bosnian and Serbian borders). 
The SDF estimates the cost of assistance will be approximately 
10,000 USD. The project duration will last nine months.  Without 
this necessary funding many of these beneficiaries may abandon their 
right to return. 
 
A copy of SDF's code of conduct will be sent by follow-on e-mail. 
 
¶3. (U) PART TWO - SUSTAINING RETURNS THROUGH TRANSPORTATION FOR 
ELDERLY AND INFIRM RETURNEES IN SISAK COUNTY 
 
Local NGO Our Life currently provides medical and social care 
assistance to approximately 200 elderly and/or infirm refugee 
returnee beneficiaries in the city of Petrinja and 55 surrounding 
villages in the Sisak County area (an area of special state 
concern).  The majority of beneficiaries live alone with no family 
support network and limited retirement benefits.  In many villages 
beneficiaries do not have basic services such as phone, running 
water and in some cases electricity. Public transportation is 
limited or not available. 
 
Our Life aims to improve the quality of life for this vulnerable 
group by providing in-house medical exams and rehabilitation 
treatment by medical professionals, transportation to doctor 
appointments and delivery of prescriptions. The NGO also organizes 
food delivery and assists in meal preparation, cleaning and yard 
maintenance, personal hygiene (bathing and putting on clothes), and 
basic socialization to prevent isolation and loneliness. 
 
The NGO has nine permanent employees and 20 volunteers. The NGO only 
has two vehicles for employees to service all 200 beneficiaries in 
Petrinja and the surrounding 55 villages. One of the vehicles is a 
25 year old Golf which frequently breaks down and is unusable for 
those beneficiaries who are disabled. The lack of reliable 
transportation severely limits the services this NGO is able to 
provide to this most vulnerable group of returning refugees.  This 
 
ZAGREB 00000301  002 OF 002 
 
 
project will allow for the purchase of a newer used mini-van capable 
of transporting infirm beneficiaries including those who are in 
wheelchairs.  Our Life estimates that the cost of such a vehicle 
would be approximately 10,000 USD. 
 
The provision of a reliable vehicle will allow Our Life to visit 
more returnees on a more frequent basis and provide the vital 
medical and social care that these refugees do not have access too. 
Any vehicle purchased through the use of Taft fund grants will be 
marked and identified as a gift from the U.S. government. 
 
A copy of Our Life's code of conduct will be sent by follow-on 
e-mail. 
 
BRADTKE