Bosnia and Herzegovina returnees face infrastructure and survival challenges

Displaced populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to face significant challenges in returning to their ancestral homes decades after the conflict. In Gornja Brijesnica near Lukavac, residents report that despite efforts to return, the lack of basic infrastructure such as electricity, water, and functional roads prevents sustainable living. Only five houses have been rebuilt in a village that once housed 570 people.

Similarly, in Srebrenica, the population has dwindled from over 36,000 before the war to approximately 4,000 residents today. While many returnees sustain themselves through agriculture, there are ongoing calls for state support to ensure economic survival and a secure future. Despite the heavy legacy of the genocide, some community initiatives, such as the “Vaso Jovanović” cultural-artistic society, attempt to foster multi-ethnic coexistence through traditional song and dance involving both Bosniak and Serbian youth.