Prije samog ulaska u Vrginmost u općini Gvozd, uočavamo trošnu zgradu koja je svjedočila i boljim danima tijekom kojih je služila kao smještaj radnicima obližnje DIP pilane koja je zatvorena i napuštena jer više ne zapošljava lokalno stanovništvo pružajući mu stabilan prihod. Zgrada je sada dom Branka Vlašića (81), starijeg, ali još uvijek snažnog muškarca koji se ipak doima trošnim kao i zgrada u kojoj živi.

Branko je rođen u selu Ostrozin koje je zapravo malo selo u blizini Vrginmosta gdje je živio seljačkim životom do nesigurnih dana iz sredine devedesetih. Tada je potražio utočište u Somboru u Republici Srbiji. Njegova obiteljska kuća u Ostrozinu nije pretrpjela štetu tijekom rata, ali je, budući da nije bila nadzirana i izolirana, oronula do stupnja neuseljivosti. Cijelo selo je danas u lošem stanju, neodržavano, nenaseljeno i zaraslo korovom i šikarom. Čak se i Branko slaže da obnova njegove bivše kuće ne predstavlja razuman korak za državu, a ne bi bila pravo rješenje ni za njega.

Prilično rano u cjelokupnom procesu povratka, 1997. godine, Branko se vratio iz Srbije u općinu Gvozd i zatekao svoj dom u neuseljivom stanju, a svoj poljoprivredni uzgoj procijenio neodrživim. Obratio se lokalnim vlastima koje su mu dodijelile privremeni smještaj u malom stanu u bivšoj stambenoj zgradi radnika pilane. On također prima skromnu "poljoprivredničku" mirovinu.

Prolazile su godine, a već trošna radnička zgrada pretrpjela je veliku štetu zbog nedostatnog održavanja. Zidovi su se urušili, krov prokišnjava, nema struje, ali čak i da je ima, to bi predstavljalo ozbiljnu opasnost od požara. Jedan po jedan, Brankovi su susjedi napustili zgradu, ali on i dalje ostaje u jedinom preostalom stanu koji ponešto nalikuje na sklonište, ali neće proći dugo i on će se raspasti – ipak, nadajmo se da se to neće zbiti dok je Branko unutra. "Nadam se da će ove zime biti puno snijega", kaže on, "i da će krov popustiti pod pritiskom i potjerati me u grob".

Nakon odbijenog zahtjeva za obnovu njegove prijeratne kuće, općina Gvozd mu je dodijelila trenutni smještaj. Branko je 2009. podnio zahtjev u sklopu državnog programa stambenog zbrinjavanja. Iako je njegova situacija vrlo teška, upravne procedure i oni koji su odgovorni za pomoć tek mu trebaju pružiti rješenje.

"Nitko me ne posjećuje, imam zdravstvenih problema, a srećom tu je autobusna stanica u blizini stana koju mogu koristiti prilikom odlaska u najbližu bolnicu u Karlovcu", kaže Branko. "Samo nekoliko stotina metara dalje, u Vrginmostu, općina je izgradila stambenu zgradu i neki povratnici tamo žive, ali mnogi stanovi su namijenjeni prodaji, a ne zbrinjavanju", žali se. Doista, u samom središtu grada stoji lijepa nova zgrada s mnogo nenastanjenih stanova i čini nestvarni prizor u usporedbi s radničkom zgradom kojoj svakog trena prijeti urušavanje koje bi moglo okončati patnju ovog osamljenog, starog i nesretnog muškarca.

UNHCR je u nekoliko navrata obavijestio mjerodavne vlasti o životnim uvjetima gospodina Vlašića te se i dalje zalaže za postizanje brzog i odgovarajućeg rješenja. Dolaze zimski mjeseci i strahujemo za Branka. U njegovom kraju ima dostupnih i praznih stanova te bi mu jedno administrativno i humanitarno rješenje moglo doslovno spasiti život, omogućujući mu i uživanje u povratku u vlastitu domovinu.

FOTO i TEKST: UNHCR/D.Klasnić

Before entering Vrginmost in Gvozd municipality one sees a weathered building that has seen better days as workers lodging for the nearby DIP sawmill, now closed and deserted building not more employing local population and offering steady. The building is now home for Branko Vlasic (81), an elderly but sturdy men as weathered as the dwelling he occupies.

Branko was born in the village of Ostrozin, actually a small hamlet in the vicinity of Vrginmost where he lived the life of a farmer until the precarious days of the mid-nineties when he sought refuge in Sombor in the Republic of Serbia. His family house in Ostrozin did not suffer damage during the war but, being unattended for many years and isolated, degraded to an inhabitable state. The entire village is today in poor state of repair, unpopulated and overrun by weeds and undergrowth. Even Branko agrees that reconstruction of his former home is not plausible for the State and would not be a proper solution for him.

In 1997, fairly early in the overall return process, Branko returned from Serbia to Gvozd municipality and found his home inhabitable and his farming livelihood unsustainable. He approached the local authorities who allocated him temporary accommodation in a small flat in the former sawmills workers dwelling. He is also recipient of a meagre "agricultural" pension.

Years have passed and the already weathered workers dwelling has suffered of the lack of maintenance. Walls have crumbled, the roof is leaking, there is no electricity and even if there was it would present a serious fire hazard. One by one Branko's neighbours have left the dwelling but he still remains in the only flat left that has some kind of semblance to a shelter but it will not be long before it all crumbles down, hopefully not while he is inside. "I hope this winter will be heavy with snow", he says," I hope the roof will give to pressure and cover me into a grave".

Upon his failure to obtain reconstruction of his pre-war home, the Gvozd municipality allotted him the current housing. In 2009 he applied for the government's housing care programme. Although his situation is dire, administrative procedures and those responsible to help have yet to provide a solution.

"No one visits me, I have health issues and luckily there is a bus stop near the dwelling I can use when going to the nearest hospital in Karlovac", Branko says. "Only a few hundred meters away, in Vrginmost, the municipality has constructed an apartment building and some returnees live there but many flats are for sale not for housing care", he laments. Indeed, a beautiful new building in the very centre of the town stands with many unoccupied flats portraying a transcendental picture when compared with the ruined workers dwelling threatening to collapse and end the suffering of this lonely, aged and unfortunate single men.

The UNHCR has on several occasions informed the responsible authorities on the living conditions of Mr Vlasic and continues to advocate for a fast and adequate solution. The winter months are coming and we fear for Branko. Flats are available and empty in his region and an administrative and humanitarian solution could literally save his life enabling him to enjoy his return to his homeland.

PHOTO and STORY: UNHCR/D.Klasnić