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Implemented regulations for the effective allocation of funds towards the care and support of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

The Commissariat for Refugees and Migration and the Republic of Serbia is continuously working to resolve the difficulties of people who had to leave their homes during the conflict in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, Commissioner for Refugees and Migration Nataša Stanisavljević said today as she made a guest appearance on Pink Television morning programme.

“From 500,000 refugees and war-endangered persons who fled to Serbia more than 350,000 acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia which represents the largest process of integration of refugees in modern Europe, which puts Serbia in a leading position when it comes to care provision, not only in Europe but in the world in terms of the number of integrated refugees. The Commissariat for Refugees and Migration and the State of Serbia are trying to help all their citizens especially those in need, not only refugees but also internally displaced persons from Kosovo and Metohija”, Commissioner Stanisavljević said.

In 2022, the Commissariat helped over 1,000 families through the integration process carried out by provision of rental housing units with the right to purchase, country houses with garden, packages of construction material, allocation of modular homes as well as social housing in protected conditions. The funds were provided through the Budget of the Republic of Serbia which already passed two important Regulations for the following year at the Government Assembly and concerning incentive funds for refugee families and internally displaced families.

“The Commissariat for Refugees and Migrations publishes a public invitation to which all Local Self-Government Districts can apply. The regulation provides funds for solving the housing needs of the most vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons in the form of improving housing conditions, buying country houses with garden, awarding one-time aid in the form of construction material and economic empowerment of the Beneficiaries. All refugee families who have not yet been taken care of, as well as internally displaced persons who are on the records of the Commissariat, can respond to the public invitation in their places of residence. Also, our goal is to move in another 500 families by the middle of the year, through the Regional Housing Programme”.

Regarding migration, Commissioner Stanisavljević emphasized that since the beginning of the Western Balkan migration route, more precisely 2015, more than one and a half million people have passed through Serbia, and only a small number of them have expressed their intention to apply for asylum in our country. The Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia recorded 124,127 migrants in Reception and Asylum Centres during 2022. At the moment approximately 2,600 people are staying in 16 operational Centres. Accommodation capacity is sufficient and the occupancy rate is 45% of the total capacity set by Serbia for the reception of migrants, which means that it is not a crisis situation at the moment.

The Commissariat for Refugees and Migration and the State of Serbia will continue to act responsibly and humanely towards all people in need of protection of our country however we will not allow violations of the law on the territory of our country, for which we have zero tolerance.

Respecting the laws of our country is mandatory for everyone who is on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, because only in Reception Centres all persons can receive adequate and humane conditions that every person deserves. Serbia will always respect international law regarding migrants, Commissioner Nataša Stanisavljević concluded.