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UNHCR Zagreb staff during the celebration of the World Refugee Day, Zagreb, 20 June 2008.

Office in Croatia

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been present in Croatia since 1991, providing protection and humanitarian assistance to several hundred thousand refugees and returnees, displaced as a result of conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to its phase-down strategy, UNHCR in Croatia had to reduce its activities related to the post-war displacement. However, thanks to the support received from the European Commission via its Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) 2008/2009 Regional Programme for Refugee Return in the Western Balkans, the Office, continues to maintain its field presence with its two Field Teams located in Knin and Sisak until July 2009.

Activities:

The UN Refugee Agency in Zagreb with its two units - Return and Reintegration and Asylum - pursues two essential objectives: to promote and facilitate the return and reintegration of Croatian refugees from Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and to assist the Croatian authorities and NGOs in developing the asylum system in line with international/European standards and practices.

UNHCR Croatia

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UNHCR Knin staff providing legal assistance to Maljkovic familiy, Serb returnees to Knin area, Knin, June 2008.

Field Teams Sisak and Knin

Field Team in Sisak covers eight counties in central and eastern Croatia, while the Team in Knin covers five southern Croatian counties. Main activities of the field teams include:

Activities:

  • Ensuring protection and assistance for remaining refugees from BiH and Kosovo in private and collective accommodation.

  • Advocating local integration of refugees.

  • Coordinating the response to humanitarian needs.

  • Coordinating the monitoring and analysis of the legal and administrative reintegration of returnees.

  • Monitoring the State reconstruction, repossession and housing care programs.

  • Supporting cross-border initiatives towards repatriation in both directions.

  • Supporting information dissemination to the refugee and returnee population.

  • Monitoring and coordinating UNHCR sponsored voluntary repatriation, legal, social and community building programs.


UNHCR Croatia