Milan (71) i Koviljka (65) Petković žive u kući Koviljkina brata u selu Rudanovac u predgrađu Korenice (Ličko-senjska županija/Hrvatska) i imaju sina Milorada (46) koji živi u Srbiji. Rudanovac je tipično selo koje čini nekoliko kuća okruženih stajama i vrtovima koji predstavljaju osnovni, i ponekad jedini, izvor na koji se povratnici oslanjaju za hranu i mogući slabi prihod.

Milan, koji je prije sukoba iz devedesetih radio kao knjigovođa u lokalnoj šumarskoj jedinici i Koviljka koja je kvalificirana kuharica, živjeli su u stanu u društvenom vlasništvu u Korenici kao nositelji stanarskog prava. Sukob u devedesetima i njegov vrhunac 1995. natjerao ih je da traže utočište u Republici Srbiji, što je priča slična pričama preostalih 250,000 hrvatskih Srba raseljenih tijekom rata.

No, ono što je potom uslijedilo definitivno nije slično mnogim drugim izbjegličkim pričama. Novi vlasnik restorana/hotela u kojem je Koviljka radila prije devedesetih je, prisjećajući se njezinih kuharskih kvaliteta, od prvih povratnika u Korenicu tražio informacije o obitelji Petković. On je bio toliko impresioniran Koviljkinim kulinarskim vještinama da je uporno nazivao obitelj u Srbiju nudeći im pomoć i zaposlenje po povratku. S obzirom da se u Srbiji nisu mogli uzdržavati te ocijenivši situaciju u Hrvatskoj sigurnom, Petkovići su se 1998. vratili u Korenicu i prvotno bili smješteni u općinskom objektu.

Milan se prisjeća tog dana: "Vratili smo se u Korenicu nakon obiteljskog sastanka. Svi mi - moja supruga Koviljka, naš sin Milorad i njegova supruga i ja. Onog dana kad smo se vratili, u 23 sata navečer, posjetio nas je vlasnik Hotela Macola u Korenici. Želio nam je ponuditi posao. Već sljedećeg dana, u 7 sati ujutro, Koviljka je počela raditi u kuhinji Hotela Macola kao kuharica zadužena za pekarske proizvode i tijesta, a ja sam počeo raditi kao službenik te smo tamo radili do odlaska u mirovinu 2008. i 2009." Nažalost, Milorad nije bio te sreće te se nakon šest mjeseci u Korenici vratio u Srbiju gdje mu je ponuđen posao.

Kuća Koviljkina brata u Rudanovcu predstavljala je sljedeći korak za obitelj. Kuća je u neprihvatljivom stanju, međutim vlasnik koji sada živi u Kanadi bi je želio prodati. Rudanovac je u blizini Nacionalnog parka Plitvička jezera, a imovina je vrijedna i tražena. Kao bivši nositelji stanarskog prava, Petkovići imaju pravo na stambeno zbrinjavanje u Hrvatskoj, a zahtjev su podnijeli 2004. te dobili pozitivnu odluku 2010. Danas se nalaze na popisu stambenog zbrinjavanja prema Regionalnom programu stambenog zbrinjavanja u sklopu prvog projekta, stambene zgrade u Korenici.

Milan ovako komentira vijesti: "Rečeno nam je da smo na prioritetnom popisu za zgradu u Korenici, ali još uvijek nismo dobili nikakvu dokumentaciju. Iskreno želim vjerovati, pogotovo jer sada znam da su uključeni UNHCR i drugi međunarodni dionici, ali mi na rješenje čekamo već tako dugo da ću biti siguran u to tek onda kad vidim stan i primim ključeve i ugovor", i dodaje: "U gotovo 15 godina od našeg povratka i čekanja na stambeno rješenje svjedočili smo mnogim nepravilnostima. Također vidimo da je stanje u hrvatskom gospodarstvu loše, a nama povratnicima je još uvijek potrebna pomoć. Ne samo povratnici, već svi mi koji živimo u Lici smo vrlo iscrpljeni te nam je prijeko potrebno društveno i gospodarsko oživljavanje".

Obitelj Petković zadovoljna je životnim izgledima u Korenici. Koviljka ipak kaže da je, "Vrijeme učinilo svoje. Sve više i više nam je potrebna medicinska pomoć . Nemamo baš neki društveni život, ali i ne očekujemo puno. Život u Korenici bi nam se sigurno poboljšao da su zdravstvene usluge i društvene mogućnosti bliže. Ipak, život u stanu će nas ponešto odsjeći od naših izvora hrane, ali smo na svu sreću oboje zaradili svoje mirovine koje se redovito isplaćuju."

Regionalni program stambenog zbrinjavanja (RPSZ) je zajednički višegodišnji program usmjeren na pružanje trajnih rješenja za oko 27,000 najugroženijih izbjegličkih obitelji (74,000 osoba) u regiji. Program se temelji na zajedničkim naporima partnerskih zemalja i međunarodne zajednice i potvrđuje opredijeljenost država za okončanje poglavlja raseljenosti u regiji putem pružanja trajnih stambenih rješenja te jamči zaštitu prava izbjeglica, povratnika i raseljenih osoba. U tom smislu, i uz potporu Europske komisije, Vlade Sjedinjenih Američkih Država, UNHCR-a i OESS-a, osnovan je Fond Regionalnog programa stambenog zbrinjavanja za priljeve donatorskih sredstava. Fondom upravlja Razvojna banka Vijeća Europe (CEB). Ova regionalna inicijativa omogućuje dobrovoljni povratak i reintegraciju ili lokalnu integraciju izbjeglica i interno raseljenih osoba iz sukoba početkom 1990-ih i ograničenog broja osoba raseljenih 1999. koje imaju status interno raseljenih osoba u Crnoj Gori.

FOTO i TEKST: UNHCR/D.Klasnić

Milan (71) and Koviljka (65) Petković live in Koviljka's brother's house in the village of Rudanovac in the outskirts of Korenica (Lika-Senj County/Croatia) and have a son Milorad (46) who lives in Serbia. Rudanovac is a typical village of several houses surrounded by barns and gardens, basic and sometimes the only resource returnees can rely on for food and possible meager income.

Milan, who before the conflict in the nineties worked as accountant in the local forestry and Koviljka who is a qualified cook lived in a socially owned flat in Korenica as occupancy/tenancy right holders. The conflict in the nineties and its culmination in 1995 saw them seeking refuge in the Republic of Serbia, a story similar to the other estimated 250,000 Croatian Serbs who were displaced during the war.

What is definitely not similar to the so many other refugees is what happened next. The new owner of a restaurant/hotel Koviljka used to work in before the nineties remembering her qualities as a chef sought information on the Petkovic family among the first returnees to Korenica. He was so impressed of Koviljka's cooking skills that kept calling the family in Serbia offering them aid and employment upon return. Not being able to sustain their livelihoods in Serbia and assessing the security situation in Croatia as acceptable, the Petkovic's returned to Korenica, firstly being accommodated in municipality housing, in 1998.

Milan recalls that day: „We returned to Korenica after a family meeting. All of us, myself, my wife Koviljka, our son Milorad and his wife. The day we returned, at 23.00 we were visited by the owner of Hotel Macola in Korenica. He was eager to offer us a job. The very next day, at 7.00 o'clock Koviljka started working in Macola's kitchen as pastry chef and I started working as a clerk and we worked there until
retirement in 2008 and 2009." Unfortunately, Milorad was not so lucky and after six months in Korenica returned to Serbia where he was offered employment.

Koviljka's brother's house in Rudanovac was the next step for the family. The house is unacceptable condition, however the owner who now lives in Canada is eager to sell. Rudanovac is close to Plitvice Lakes National Park and property is valuable and sought for. As former occupancy/tenancy right holders, the Petkovic are entitled of housing care solutions in Croatia and have applied for it in 2004 and obtained a positive decision in 2010. Today, they find themselves listed for housing care under the Regional Housing Care Programme within the 1st wave project, an apartment building in Korenica.

Milan comments the news: „We were told we are priority listed for the building in Korenica but have not as yet received any paperwork. Honestly, I want to believe, especially as I now know that UNHCR and other international stakeholders are involved, but we were waiting for solutions for so long that i will be only certain of it when I see the flat and receive keys and contract", and adds: „ in the almost 15 years upon our return and wait for housing we have seen many irregularities. We also see that the State's economy is not doing well and us returnees are still in need of aid. Not only returnees, all of us living in Lika are exhausted and in need of social and economic revival".

The Petkovic family are satisfied with life prospects in Korenica. Koviljka says that „time has done its thing. We are more and more in need of medical attention. We do not have much of a social life but do not expect much either. Living in Korenica would surely improve our situation with medical services and social opportunities being closer. Nevertheless, living in a flat will somewhat cut us off from our food sources but luckily we have both earned our pensions which are regular."

The Regional Housing Programme (RHP) is a joint multi-annual programme aimed at providing durable housing solutions for some 27,000 most vulnerable refugee families (74,000 persons) in the region. The programme builds on the joint efforts of the partner countries and the international community and confirms the commitment of the countries to end the displacement chapter in the region through provision of durable housing solutions and guarantees for protection of the rights of refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons. To that end, and with the support of the European Commission, the Government of the United States of America, UNHCR and OSCE, a Regional Housing Programme Fund for proceeds of the donor community was established. The Fund is managed by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). This regional initiative allows for voluntary return and reintegration or local integration of refugees and internally displaced persons from the conflicts of early 1990s and the limited number of the persons internally displaced in 1999 holding the status of internally displaced persons in Montenegro.

PHOTO and STORY: UNHCR/D.Klasnić