Cablegate: Addendum Nomination for Ambassador's Refugee Fund 2005

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001181

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM: TTARGOS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE: DROBINSON
BELGRADE FOR DSALAZAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF HR
SUBJECT: Addendum Nomination for Ambassador's Refugee Fund 2005

REF: (A) STATE 27113 (B) Zagreb 246 (C) Selinger-Targos email

1. Post appreciates allocation of funds for two projects under
PRM's Ambassador Refugee Fund. As per ref C, the refugee
collective center in which an approved project was to be held
will be closed by the GOC. Post is re-sending an alternative
proposal and requests funding instead be allocated to this
project. The project was identified in consultation with
UNHCR and others.

DONJI LAPAC PLAYROOM (USD 5000)

2. Background: The entire municipality of Lapac
(354 square km, 2,300 inhabitants) previously had
no functioning kindergartens until the Red Cross and Red
Crescent established a playroom in 2003. The playroom
is situated in a reconstructed building that was a
destroyed high school. In 2004, the Norwegian
Refugee Council (NRC) financed the playroom but
will discontinue funding in June 2005 for financial
reasons. The playroom has proven able to fill the
gap of a proper kindergarten.

3. Location Profile: Before the war, Donji Lapac
was about 95% ethnic Serb. Most residents left
during the conflict and the region was severely
destroyed. The region is now a mixed community:
an estimated 75% of the population is ethnic Serb
while the remaining 25% is ethnic Croat (mostly
Bosnian Croat settlers)

4. Recipient: Croatian Red Cross' branch office
would supervise.

5. Project: As no kindergarten or playroom facility
exists in the region, this facility serves as a
valuable resource for the community. Currently
34 children are enrolled - 20 Croats (from settler
families) and 14 Serbs (from returnee families).
The playroom ethnic breakdown is the opposite to
that of the ethnic structure in the Lapac municipality
due to the fact that most Serb returnees are elderly
and Bosnian Croat residents are usually young families.

6. Use of Funds: Funds would cover a teacher's salary
to work part-time (four hours daily), including pension
and health contributions. The current teacher is a
social worker and has received praise from previous
donors. The municipality pays for utility costs.
Public Diplomacy: Post would highlight its support
for an underdeveloped, war-affected region.

FRANK

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