IDPs return and reintegration opportunities

Kragujevac, July 9, 2014 – “Support to sustainable return and reintegration of IDPs in Kosovo” and “Enhancing IDPs return and reintegration opportunities” are projects carried out by the German NGO Arbeiter – Samariter – Bund (ASB) and Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in cooperation with the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo-Metohija and Commissariat for Refugees and Migration. The EUR 1,200,000 worth projects are funded by the European Union through the Delegation of the EU to the Republic of Serbia.

As part of an information/outreach campaign launched in June this year, Mauro Mascioli of the ASB and Ivana Todorović of Danish Refugee Council presented the projects to internally displaced persons at the Kragujevac City Hall today and introduced them to the activities that will be undertaken in order to facilitate the process of their return and reintegration.

With an aim to provide support to internally displaced persons who wish to return to Kosovo, besides the informational visits to Kosovo throughout the two-year project, the returnees will be provided with free administrative support to help them acquire the necessary documentation , as well as aid in food, hygiene products, basic furniture and household items. The transport of equipment and personal belongings will be provided to IDP families who wish to return to Kosovo, along with business start-up and development grants for communities with best entrepreneurial ideas, as a way to enable their economic empowerment.

These projects do not offer housing solutions as they are intended for IDPs who have already resolved or are currently resolving their housing issues, says Mauro Mascioli, noting that at least 110 families will receive assistance in the process of their return to Kosovo.

Today’s project presentation was also attended by member of the city council for healthcare, social policy and child care Jasmina Nedović, who said that the city of Kragujevac is tasked with providing the information regarding the realization and opportunities provided by the project to all internally displaced persons who have the option, desire or need to return to Kosovo. For the time being, our role is strictly informational but we will try to find new tasks we can complete as the project unfolds. We have already participated in similar projects by buying building materials and houses to support sustainable livelihood for IDPs and their inclusion in our community, Jasmina Nedović underlined.

The project of return and reintegration of internally displaced persons to Kosovo, which will last until February 2016, also includes citizens’ associations “Sveti Nikola”, “Božur” and “Sveti Spas”.