| The village of Gradska is known for its high temperatures and long dry periods
When the war began many people left the village, fleeing to neighbouring Mostar or leaving the country entirely. Even now many remain displaced; reluctant to return as most of the companies and factories have been destroyed, making jobs hard to find.
A return to agriculture is the only real hope for Gradska, but due to a lack of water, even this is not easy.
In the past, villagers would build water tanks next to their houses to collect the rain or travel to town to buy water cisterns. This enabled them to grow produce even during the hot and dry months from May to September.
Today a few returnees have developed gardens next to their houses, but without vital water supplies they are able to grow only small amounts of produce. If the residents are to begin to expand their production to its pre-war level and if more people are to be enabled to return to their homes they must solve this problem of water.
Mumin is 47 and lives with his sister Nusreta, brother Fadil, Fadil’s wife Zejna and their three children.
The only income the family has comes from breeding cows; selling the milk and meat products, but the money earned is not enough to feed the seven-strong family.
Mumin’s family has no access to potable water. They collect rainwater which is used for both cooking and washing.
Gradska is blessed with underground water and some of the village’s wealthier residents have managed to drill wells.
Islamic Relief plans to dig a well in Gradska, providing the village with a constant source of safe and clean water.
“Helping us solve the water issue would mean the whole world to the villagers in Gradska. We would finally be able to start small businesses of fruit and vegetable production. The economic stability and self-sustainability of the returnees would be stimulated and many of the displaced would be able to make the first steps to come back. Those that have already returned would finally be able to achieve economic independency,” said Mumin.
"This area of Bosnia would jump from economic dullness and stagnation to prosperity and advancement. We pray to Allah to reward Islamic Relief and others who try to help us for their efforts in trying to solve our problem," he added.
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