Balkan states raise $395 million for refugees
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) – Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro raised some (EURO)300 million ($395 million) at an international donors conference to help the remaining 74,000 people who lost their homes in the wars in former Yugoslavia two decades ago.
The countries are seeking to raise (EURO)500 million for their jointly developed housing plan.
At Tuesday’s conference in Sarajevo, the EU donated (EURO)230 million. The U.S. and others committed the remaining (EURO)70 million.
Stefan Fuelle, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, said he will push to get the remainder over the next five years.
Some three million people were displaced during the wars in the 1990s, making it the biggest displacement in Europe after World War II. Most returned home or found alternative arrangements.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
