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MR©-02-03-'04
Integration of refugees in SCG: original
Croatian documents are needed
Marinko and Sladjana originally from Knin in Croatia, are now living in
Indjija in SCG. They both obtained their birth certificates and
citizenship certificates through the ILA network. On the basis of that,
Sladjana wants to apply for the SCG citizenship. She needed the birth
certificate from Croatia in order to obtain personal documents of SCG.
Marinko already applied for SCG citizenship and is now waiting for the
decision on his application.
They also applied for the SCG citizenship for their children and now they are waiting for the decision. Their son Momčilo (born in 1995 in Knin) is registered in the birth record book, and their daughter Marijana (born in 2002 in Novi Sad) needs to be registered into the birth record book of the Republic of Croatia. Since both parents have Croatian citizenship, they would like their children to get registered as well into the citizenship record book of the Republic of Croatia, what they are entitled to. In order to register Marijana into the birth record book in Knin, both parents must have proof that they are Croatian citizens, and the mother must even submit the Croatian ID card.
The family decided to integrate in SCG, since the father Marinko has a full-time job, what provides an income for the entire family, while the mother has occasional season work. Two years ago, within the ILA humanitarian aid program, ILA bought a mini electric stove to the family, so that the mother may prepare food for the newborn baby Marijana. Since both parents are from urban areas, Knin, Gračac, they do not believe that they may find any job in Croatia, and therefore they do not want to return for now on.
Another example is Ljubica from Hrvatska Kostajnica, Croatia, who now lives in Kuzmin, SCG. Ljubica does not want to return to Croatia, and she decided to integrate in SCG. In order to get the Serbian citizenship, and a job conditioned with the citizenship, she addressed ILA to obtain the birth certificate from the Republic of Croatia and a certificate on non-possession of any income in Croatia. On the basis of those documents, she realized the right to a health insurance in the Republic of Serbia.
Mirko, Ranka and Dalibor from Dvor, Croatia, are now living as refugees in Kuzmin, SCG. They do not want to return to Croatia. They live very poorly in a private house for which they pay rent. Since their house in Croatia was not very much damaged during the war, they hope to sell it soon in order to provide a durable housing solution in SCG. Through ILA, they obtained documents to apply for the SCG citizenship. After they got the documents, they applied for the citizenship. They are still in the procedure.
Tajana from Sisak, Croatia lives in a Collective center in Vrbas, SCG. Tajana does not have any documents, except for the refugee ID card. She is not able to obtain necessary documents from the Republic of Croatia herself, because she is without any income. Through the ILA network she obtained a certificate on her free marriage status in order to get married to a SCG citizen. When she received all the requested documents, she solved all her existential problems, because she got married, got the SCG citizenship on the basis of the marriage and left the Collective center. Now she lives with her husband in his family house.
Milana from Petrinja, Croatia now lives in Temerin, SCG. She does not have any documents but the refugee ID card. She lives with her old parents in a private accommodation for which she pays rent. She decided to stay and integrate in SCG, because she already works temporarily in a car wash. Her employer promised to her to give him a full-time job when he gets the SCG citizenship. Through the ILA network, she obtained a birth certificate and a citizenship certificate, and after that she applied for the SCG citizenship.
Milka from Biljane Donje near Benkovac, now lives in Sremska Mitrovica. Through the ILA network, she obtained her birth certificate and the citizenship certificate. She needs the birth certificate in order to get the SCG citizenship, and the citizenship certificate is necessary to apply for repossession of the property in Croatia. She wants to sell her property and permanently settle in SCG. The documents were obtained in a short time, and she applied for the SCG citizenship.
A better job thanks to a diploma
Dragan has to support his family, by working physical jobs and earning
his living that way in Indjija SCG. Through the ILA network, Dragan
obtained his diploma’s of the Faculty of Organization and Informatics
from Varaždin, Croatia, where he graduated before he became a refugee.
With these documents Dragan could apply for a job adequate to his
profession and qualifications. Now he has got a job that fits his level
of education and provides his family with a better and safer income.
Home-sick
Milan lives as a refugee in Indjija. Milan, who originates from Donji
Lapac in Croatia, lives with his family in a rented accommodation: a
room and a kitchen, without a toilet and a bathroom. The family cannot
really adapt to their new surrounding, although the children already
finished both elementary and secondary education there. After they
graduated they were not able to find any job. Through the ILA network
Milan wants to obtain his birth and citizenship certificates. With these
documents Milan can obtain a Travel document through the Croatian
Consular Mission in Subotica, and he is considering to return to Croatia
permanently. He is worried about employment and other living conditions
in Croatia. Therefore he would like to go to Croatia for the first time
just to see about the possibilities for the return of his family, this
as soon as the APN Agency has reconstructed their house.
Milenko is living in Šabac, but originates from Osijek in Croatia. He obtained his birth and citizenship certificates through the ILA network. He wants to return to Croatia for good, but he has an accommodation problem, because he had an apartment before the war, i.e. he was a tenancy right holder of an apartment in Osijek. Through the Croatian Consular Mission, Milenko will obtain a travel document to be able to go to Croatia in order to check the possibilities for return. Based on his working years in Croatia he should soon be entitled to receive his pension. With the pension he can pay for a small apartment, since he does not believe that he will manage to exercise his right to temporary accommodation, since he possesses a real estate in which it is impossible to live. Regardless of that, Milenko wants to return to his native city Osijek.
To start a new life
Nikola lives in Šabac in SCG but originates from Sisak in Croatia.
Through the ILA network, he obtained his Croatian birth and citizenship
certificates. Nikola opts for dual citizenship, since he recently
received a positive decision on his application for SCG citizenship. As
soon as he obtains his SCG ID card, he can apply for a Croatian passport
at the Croatian Consular Mission in SCG. He needs both the SCG ID card
and the Croatian citizenship certificate in order to apply for the
passport. Nikola does not want to give up the Croatian citizenship,
since all his property remained in Croatia. He wants to sell his
property in Croatia and to start a new life in SCG, first of all by
resolving his housing problem. With the Croatian passport he will be
able to travel to Italy and join his brother who works season jobs
without a working permit, i.e. on the basis of a tourist visa.
Military service
Bratislav lives in Šabac, but is a refugee from Petrinja in Croatia.
Through the ILA network, he obtained his birth certificate and the
certificate on non-registration into the citizenship record book of the
Republic of Croatia. He needs a birth certificate in order to get his
personal documents of SCG, since he was granted the SCG citizenship
without any other document, but the Expellee ID card. Since he is not
registered into the citizenship book of the Republic of Croatia, he will
submit the certificate in the Croatian Consular Mission and initiate a
proceeding for the establishment of his Croatian citizenship, because
both of his parents have citizenship certificates, i.e. they are both
Croatian citizens. The problem for Bratislav is that he did not serve in
the army, neither in Croatia nor in SCG. He is still subject to military
conscription and is only able to postpone the army for a year in Croatia
on the basis of a certificate that he is a full-time student. At the
same time he cannot get the SCG passport until he finishes his military
conscription, and that is what Bratislav does not want to do.
Gypsy in Finland
Ilija, who is a refugee from Darda in Croatia, now lives in Zrenjanin.
Through the ILA network, he obtained both his birth certificate and
citizenship certificate. On the basis of those documents, he applied for
the SCG citizenship certificate. When he gets the SCG ID card, he will
apply for a Croatian passport through the Croatian Consular Mission, and
then he also needs a citizenship certificate. Ilija got married in SCG
and got children and wants to permanently stay in SCG. However, he lives
with his family under very poor conditions. It is very difficult for him
to find job, because he is Gypsy. His extended family, including his
brother with his family and their parents, live in Finland as asylum
seekers. Ilija’s plan is to try to go there as well and find a living
for his family, since there are no any possibilities even for the
qualified workers to find job in Zrenjanin, and Ilija does not have any
qualifications. He can only get some occasional season work on the
agricultural fields.
Repossession of property
Djordje who is a refugee from Zagreb, now lives in Vrsac in SCG. Through
the ILA network, he obtained his birth certificate and the certificate
on non-registration into the citizenship book of the Republic of Croatia.
The birth certificate is necessary for him to get personal documents in
SCG. He needs the certificate on the non-registration into the
citizenship book in order to subsequently establish the Croatian
citizenship, what Djordje will realize through the Consular Mission of
the Republic of Croatia. He is not able to obtain the Croatian personal
documents without the citizenship certificate, and he is disabled in
this way to access his property, remaining and temporarily occupied in
Croatia. Djordje is not able to get the repossession of the property
without obtaining the returnee status in the Republic of Croatia, and
that status is not possible to obtain without the citizenship
certificate.
Smiljana amd Petar from Drniš, Croatia now live in Sremska Mitrovica: They applied for birth certificates and citizenship certificates through the ILA network. They need birth certificates in order to be accepted into the SCG citizenship, and citizenship certificates to initiate a reconstruction procedure and the repossession of the property in the Republic of Croatia. They still have not decided to return to Croatia. The requested documents were obtained in a short time, and they applied for the SCG citizenship.
Mixed marriage
Nevenka from the Croatian city of Split is now a refugee in SCG. Through
the ILA network she obtained her Croatian birth certificate and the
citizenship certificate. Nevenka tried before through other
organizations to obtain these documents for many years but without any
success. She even never received any feedback information. Nevenka is of
Croatian ethnicity, married to Jovan of Serbian ethnicity. The family
fled together during the withdrawal of the JNA Army from Dalmatia. Since
then she has lived with her family in Sabac. On the basis of the
obtained documents, Nevenka will get the travel document through the
Croatian Consular Mission. She wants to go to Croatia in order to obtain
the personal documents there. All her relatives are in Croatia, and she
has not seen them since the war. She contacts them only over the phone.
Marriage ceremony
Nenad from Virovitica in Croatia is a refugee in Indjija. He obtained
his birth certificate and the citizenship certificate through the ILA
network. Nenad's problem is that he scheduled his marriage ceremony, and
urgently needed his birth certificate for that. With the birth
certificate, which must not be older than six months, a bachelor proves
that he has a free marriage status, because all changes of status are
recorded on the birth certificate. The citizenship certificate is
necessary for him to apply for a Croatian passport. Through the ILA
network his birth certificate was arranged in record time, so Nenad
managed to get married as scheduled.
Born in Bosnia
Milka from Dvor in Croatia is a refugee in Sabac, SCG. She obtained the
birth and citizenship certificates through the ILA network. Also, for
her husband Djuro, she obtained the birth certificate as well as a
certificate that his workbook was destroyed during the war and a
certificate on non-registration into the citizenship book, since the
citizenship record book was destroyed. Djuro must initiate a proceeding
for the subsequent establishment of the Croatian citizenship. For
Djuro's and Milka's children, underage Gordana, Zdravko, Milanka, Ivanka
and Mila, mother Milka obtained certificates on non-registration into
the Croatian citizenship record book, since the books were destroyed in
the war, and certificates will be used for a subsequent establishment of
the Croatian citizenship. When Djuro proves that he is a Croatian
citizen, i.e. when he gets a citizenship certificate, only then his
children will be able to initiate a proceeding for establishment of the
Croatian citizenship, since their mother Milka has a Croatian
citizenship certificate. All the children were born in Bosanski Novi (BiH),
because there was no maternity hospital in Dvor, and, thus, they will be
able to obtain the birth certificates in Bosanski Novi. They also need
the birth certificates for obtaining the SCG documents.
Two passports
Stevan from Knin in Croatia is a refugee in Nova Pazova, SCG. He
obtained the birth and citizenship certificates through the ILA network.
On the basis of the obtained documents, Stevan will obtain personal
documents of SCG, and be able to apply for a Croatian passport.
Without a birth certificate, it is not possible to get registered into the citizenship record book of SCG. On the other hand, he will get the Croatian passport through the Croatian Consular Mission in Subotica, with the address written on his Serbian ID card, he will be able to have two passports with one and the same address from the ID card, what is possible on the basis of the mutual agreement between SCG and Croatia.
Secondary school diploma
Dragan from Petrinja in Croatia is a refugee in Sabac, SCG. He obtained
the following documents through the ILA network: birth certificate,
citizenship certificate, and diploma on graduated secondary school.
Possession of the birth and citizenship certificates enables him to
obtain Croatian personal documents, and registration into the SCG
citizenship record book. The diploma on graduation from the secondary
school enables him to find employment adequate to his specialist's
training, what will provide better existence for him and his family.
Certificate on non-registration
Mile from the Croatian coastal town of Rijeka lives as a refugee in
Zrenjanin. He obtained his birth certificate and the certificate on
non-registration into the citizenship record book through the ILA
network. On the basis of the obtained birth certificate, Mile will
manage to get registered into the SCG citizenship record book. He
already received a decision on acceptance of the SCG citizenship, but he
is not able to get registered into the citizenship book, i.e. he cannot
get the ID card without the birth certificate. On the other hand, Mile
will use the obtained certificate on non-registration into the Croatian
citizenship record books for the Croatian citizenship establishment
procedure in the Croatian Consular Mission in Subotica.
Meat factory
Dusan and Draginja from Petrinja in Croatia are now living in Zrenjanin,
SCG. They tried to get their workbooks from their previous employers
through the ILA Network. However, the paralegal sent them a certificate
that the workbooks were destroyed, advising them to address the Pension
Insurance Fund and prove the pension years through it. Both Dušan and
Draginja were born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but they spent almost
their entire life in Croatia, since they moved as children with their
parents to Croatia. Their parents worked in the Meat Factory 'Gavrilovic'
in Petrinja. Both Dusan and Draginja graduated, found jobs, got married,
built a house, got children in Croatia, but they still do not have the
Croatian citizenship. If they return to Croatia, they would get the
status of a permanently settled foreigner. Before the war, Dusan worked
at the Military Department in Petrinja, and during the war, he was
engaged in the break away Krajina Military Forces. For these reasons he
does not feel safe to return to Croatia.
Damaged property
Bogdan from Osijek in Croatia lives in Sabac, SCG. He obtained his birth
and citizenship certificates through the ILA network. These documents
enabled him to obtain the Croatian passport through the Croatian
Consular Mission in Subotica. Also, the birth certificate enabled him to
get registered into the SCG citizenship record book. He also got
personal documents in SCG, i.e. an ID card and a passport. Then, he
returned to Croatia and managed to repossess his property, which was
temporarily occupied, but not destroyed. Since his property was only
damaged, it will be possible to live there after reconstruction.
Place of birth: unknown!
Petra from Zadar now lives in Sabac. She tried to get her citizenship
certificate through the ILA network. She provided information that the
citizenship certificate is in Beli Manastir. However, ILA received
information that she is not registered into the citizenship book in Beli
Manastir. After that, her father, who has Croatian documents, tried to
register her into the citizenship book in the place of birth, i.e. in
Zadar, but he was informed that Petra was registered into the
citizenship book in the office in Vinkovci. According to ILA’s
information, the Croatian administration makes a problem for those
citizenship certificates and registrations into the Croatian citizenship
books issued and registered during the United Nations Transitional
Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES). Since it is not possible to
do the subsequent registration into the citizenship book in the place of
birth for Petra, she is in a hopeless situation concerning the
realization of her right.
Refugee status
Djuro from Petrinja in Croatia lives in Sabac, SCG. He obtained birth
and citizenship certificates through the ILA network, what enabled him
to obtain a travel document in order to travel to Croatia and get the
personal documents there. Up till now it was impossible for ILA to
obtain a certificate on the unique personal record number for him in
Petrinja. This certificate is necessary for him, because on the new
Croatian documents this unique personal number is left out. Since Djuro
wants to get dual citizenship, he needs his unique personal number from
Croatia, in order to have an identical unique personal number written on
the SCG personal documents. Djuro got his SCG citizenship, but he is not
able to activate his citizenship without this unique personal number,
and therefore he still has a refugee status.
Commission for the Reconstruction
Nada from Knin now lives in Sabac, SCG. She obtained birth and
citizenship certificates through the ILA network. On the basis of these
documents, she obtained a travel document from the Croatian Consular
Mission in SCG, went to Croatia and obtained Croatian personal documents,
applied for reconstruction of her family house in Plavna. However, she
still has not received an answer from the Commission for the
Reconstruction, although she submitted all required documents for
reconstruction within the deadline. Nada wants to return to her native
city, when her house gets reconstructed, but her children do not want to
return because they believe they will not be able to find jobs in
Croatia.
Third country
Smilja from Kostajnica in Croatia is a refugee in Majur, SCG. She
obtained a birth certificate and an ownership certificate through the
ILA network. The birth certificate enabled her to get registered into
the SCG citizenship book, and the ownership certificate represents proof
that she is owner of her property. With these documents she applied for
the reconstruction of her property which was damaged during the war. As
soon as her house gets reconstructed Smilja will return to her house.
However, her children do not want to return, but they try to find
employment in SCG. Her entire family tried to move to a third country,
but their applications were rejected. She has not managed to sell the
property in Croatia by now. She lives as a subtenant together with her
family in SCG. To earn for a living they work in the agricultural fields,
while the children regularly attend school.
Milos from Karlovac, Croatia, lives in the Collective center in Vrbas, SCG. He does not have any documents but the refugee ID card. He works season jobs, and he is not able to find a full-time job, because he does not have the SCG citizenship. The Collective center will be closed soon, and he does not have where to go. Through the ILA network, he obtained his birth certificate and the citizenship certificate, and on the basis of those documents, he applied for Croatian passport to travel to his relatives in Norway, since they offer him a durable accommodation.
Destroyed record books
Andja is a refugee from Knin now living in Sabac. She obtained the
following documents through the ILA network – a birth certificate, a
certificate on non-registration into the citizenship book, because the
record books for that area were destroyed in the war, and a certificate
on non-registration into the marriage record books, which is also
destroyed. She initiated a procedure for the establishment of the
Croatian citizenship in the Croatian Consular Mission in Belgrade. When
she gets registered into the Croatian citizenship books, then she will
be able to initiate an administrative proceeding before the authorities
of the Republic of Croatia in order to prove her marriage status. The
birth certificate enabled her to get registered into the SCG citizenship
book, so she got the personal documents, i.e. the SCG passport, which
enables her to travel to Croatia in order to initiate necessary
procedures for proving her marriage status, and the repossession and
reconstruction of the property.
Devastated property
Veljko, Aleksandar and Andjelka are refugees from Osijek, Croatia,
living in Sabac, SCG. They obtained the following documents through the
ILA network: Veljko- birth certificate, Aleksandar- birth certificate
and citizenship certificate, Andjelka – birth certificate and
citizenship certificate. On the basis of the obtained documents, all of
them applied for a Croatian passport in the Croatian Consular Mission in
Belgrade, and got registered into the SCG citizenship book as well. Also,
they got the SCG personal documents on the basis of that registration.
On the other hand, on the basis of the SCG ID card and the Croatian
citizenship certificate, they applied for the Croatian passports in the
Croatian Consular Mission, where there will be written in at their SCG
address, since the SCG ID card proves the place of residence. The family
wants to integrate in SCG, but they have not resolved anything
concerning their property in Croatia, i.e. they have not sold the
property, which was devastated during the Military-Police Action
'Storm'.
Durable housing solution
Dusanka and Predrag from Zagreb are now refugees in Indjija. They
obtained birth certificates and certificates on non-registration into
the Croatian citizenship books through the ILA network. They need those
certificates in order to initiate the procedure for the registration
into the citizenship books. This was done directly in Croatia, since
Dusanka obtained the SCG personal documents on the basis of the birth
certificate, as well as the SCG passport, and went to Croatia in order
to register her husband and herself into the Croatian citizenship book.
Before the war, the family lived near Zagreb, they were both employed,
and had a family house. The house is in a good condition, it is not
occupied, but it is not possible to get the market price for it. Since
the house is well built and located in a nice place, they expect to get
a more favorable price for it. With that money, they will find a durable
housing solution in SCG.
Construction loan
Dragica from Sisak in Croatia now lives in Sabc, SCG. She obtained a
certificate on non-registration into the marriage record book through
the ILA network, on the basis of which she may initiate an
administrative proceeding in Croatia in order to prove her marriage
status. This certificate is necessary for Dragica in order to prove that
she is married and that she lives with her husband and children. On the
basis of that, they applied for a construction loan to the Norwegian
Refugee Council, in order to finish the building of their family house
in SCG.
Green house
Mladen and Mileva from Benkovac, Croatia, are now living as refugees in
Temerin, SCG, together with their three children. They are people of
low education, who were raising cattle in Croatia before the war. It was
very difficult for them to adapt and integrate in SCG, since there was
no job for them. With help of an Italian NGO, they started to grow
vegetables in a green house, which they got as a donation. However, they
did not earn enough for their existence, since they have three children.
Therefore, they needed certificates on non-possession of any property in
Croatia, in order to solve their social status in SCG and get the
children allowance. They addressed ILA and through the ILA network they
received the certificates on non-possession of the property, on the
basis of which they managed to get the children allowance and health
insurance for their children.
Right to a pension
Sava from Benkovac now lives a s a refugee in Pancevo. There she lives
together with her son, without any regular income. Since her husband,
who was a pensioner died during the Krajina time, she has a right to his
pension. However, she does not have any Croatian documents, without
which it is not possible to start receiving her husband’s pension. She
addressed ILA to obtain the documents for her, and so she received her
birth and citizenship certificates, on the basis of which she initiated
a procedure for receiving the husband’s pension.
Dragica from Smiljane near Gospić in Croatia, now lives in Ruma, SCG.
Dragica is an old and sick woman, accommodated in a private
accommodation without any income. She is not able to obtain all
necessary documents in order to transfer the pension of her deceased
husband to herself. The pension would help her to a great extent to
finance necessary medical treatments. Through the ILA network, she
obtained a marriage certificate, as proof of her marriage, on the basis
of which she will exercise her right to inherit the husband's pension.
Jovan from Ervenik near Knin, now lives in Temerin. He lives in a private accommodation at his relatives' who do not want to support him anymore. He meets conditions to obtain a Croatian pension, which would enable him to find better accommodation for his wife and himself. Since he is old and sick, he is not able to go to Croatia and obtain a birth certificate, which is necessary for him to initiate a procedure for pension. He addressed the ILA network and obtained a birth certificate. On the basis of the birth certificate, Jovan receives his pension today.
Full-time job
Mile is from Tenja in Croatia and is now living in Jabuka, SCG. He lives
there as a refugee, working a part time job. He did not have any
documents, since during the peaceful reintegration in Croatia, he did
not take his Croatian documents. However, he needs a birth certificate
from Croatia in order to apply for Serbian citizenship and obtain a
Serbian ID. Through the ILA network he obtained his birth certificate,
applied and got the Serbian citizenship, on the basis of which he
obtained the documents in SCG. Now he works a full-time job, since he
managed to resolve his problem with documents.
Skilled craftsman
Djuro from Slunj, Croatia, now lives in Laćarak village, SCG. Djuro is
in a difficult material situation. As a skilled craftsman, he could not
get a permanent job, since he does not have any documents on his
qualifications. He obtained his diploma from secondary school in the
Republic of Croatia, and now he hope to get a full-time job, on the
basis of some earlier promises, which will bring him better life
conditions in SCG, since he does not plan to return to the Republic of
Croatia.
Return and reconstruction
Zivko from Kistanje lives as a refugee in Temerin, SCG, together with
his wife and child. They live in SCG as subtenants in very difficult
conditions, and therefore they plan to return to Croatia to their
previous place of residence. However, their house in Croatia is
destroyed. In order to exercise their right to reconstruction of their
house by the state, they must show all necessary documents, including
citizenship certificates of all family members. If they apply as a
family they get more square meters reconstructed (35m2 basic plus 10 m2
for each family member who is a Croatian citizen). Through the ILA
network, they obtained citizenship certificates and birth certificates,
and applied for reconstruction in the Croatian Consular Mission in
Subotica, SCG.
Drivers license
Nikola originates from Prljevo, Croatia is now a refugee and living as a
subtenant in a small village in SCG without any perspective for a job.
He lives in very difficult conditions, working part time jobs and season
work in order to survive. He had a driving license before the warbut
lost it during the war. He addressed ILA for help and obtained a
certificate on the to him issued driving license from the Police
administration in Croatia. Now he is able to apply for more adequate and
better paid jobs, since the driving license is one of the basic
requirements when applying for a job.
Children allowance
Slobodanka from Petrinja, Croatia, is now living as a refugee in the
Collective Center in Vrbas, SCG. She is a single mother of three
children. During the Krajina time, she worked with the military, and
therefore, she did not apply for any documents in Croatia, because she
thinks that she will be refused to realize her rights in Croatia. In
order to find a durable solution, social and health insurance and
children allowance in Serbia, she needed a birth certificate for her and
all the children. She addressed the ILA office, and through the ILA
network she obtained the birth certificates and managed to solve her
status in Serbia.
Djuro and Boja from Benkovac are now living as refugees in Temerin. They do not have the intention to return to Croatia, since they integrated in SCG. They live in a difficult situation, without any regular income, with two children. They need a certificate that they do not have any property, in order to apply for the health insurance and the children allowance. Through the ILA network, they obtained the certificates on non-possession of any property, applied and received the children allowance, what significantly improved their existence.
Jovanka from Gracac, Croatia now lives as a refugee in Odžaci, SCG. Jovanka lives with her family (husband and two children) in a private accommodation, for which she pays rent. Although she and her husband are employed, they have very low salaries, and they hardly manage to survive. She addressed many humanitarian organizations for help, but without a positive answer. Through the ILA network, she obtained a certificate that she does not have any income in the Republic of Croatia and that she does not own any real estate. On the basis of that certificate, she succeeded to get the children allowance and the health insurance for her underage children.
Nena from Ogulin, Croatia, now lives in Temerin. Nena does not want to return to the Republic of Croatia. She got the SCG citizenship and she currently has a job, but with a very low income. She is mother of two underage children, and in order to get the children's allowance and the health insurance for her children, she had to submit a certificate on non-possession of any income and real estate in the Republic of Croatia to a competent social department. She addressed ILA for help and obtained the certificate through our network.
Collective center
Rade and Djuka from Benkova are accommodated as refugees in a Collective
Center in Vrbas, which is going to be closed at the end of 2004. They
have promises for a durable solution of their housing problem from the
municipal authorities, but they must have Serbian citizenship in order
to get permanent accommodation and integrate in SCG. In order to apply
for Serbian citizenship in the first place, they must enclose their
birth certificates from Croatia, which they managed to obtain through
the ILA network.
Living single
Zore from Golubic, municipality Benkovac, is now accommodated in the
Collective Center Pancevo. He lives single, without any job and without
documents neither from Croatia nor Serbia. He would like to move out of
the Collective center and find some job, but it is not possible without
the documents. Through the ILA network, he obtained his birth
certificate and citizenship certificate from Croatia and applied for
Serbian citizenship, on the basis of which he will be able to find some
job. Also, he applied for a Croatian passport in the Croatian Consular
Mission in Subotica. He would like to go abroad and find any job to earn
a living.
Return to Croatia
Ranko from Benkovac, Croatia, now lives in the Omoljica village in SCG.
He lives there in a deserted private house, which he got from the local
community authorities to use. He lives without any regular income. He
wants to return to Croatia and apply for reconstruction of his house,
destroyed during the war. Through the ILA network, he obtained the birth
certificate and citizenship certificate. After that, he addressed UNHCR
office Belgrade for return, and now he is the process to return to
Croatia.
Jovica from Kanjani, Croatia, now lives in Sremska Mitrovica, SCG. He lives in a very difficult material situation, working season jobs in order to survive. He addressed ILA to obtain a birth certificate and a citizenship certificate, in order to obtain the travel document on the basis of previously mentioned documents, and visit the Republic of Croatia. After he visits Croatia, he will make a final decision concerning his return to Croatia.