Tuesday the 7th of December 2010 – In the presence of the chief of the information sector of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia Mrs. Luca Kadar, the assistant to the Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Ivan Gerginov, the major of the city of Leskovac Mr. Slobodan Kocić, and the representative of the UNHCR Mrs. Angelita Cecere, a building comprised of 20 housing units intended for use as social housing in a supportive environment was ceremonially opened.

The construction of the housing block in the city of Leskovac represents one of the components of the Project, “Support to Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons in Serbia,” financed by means of the IPA 2007 funds which in total amount to some 9.5 million euros.

This component of the Project within the city of Leskovac was undertaken by the implementing partner of the UNHCR in cooperation with the Housing Centre and the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia.

The investment value of the Project amounts to 378,000 euros. The city of Leskovac has participated in the undertaking by means of having donated the plot of land upon which the building is to be constructed along with all the necessary infrastructure and infrastructural uplinks. Through the completion of this project, lasting and durable solutions have been provided for some 16 families of refugee and internally displaced persons as well as for 4 families from the socially vulnerable, local population. 

Along with the construction of the housing units for the purpose of providing social housing in a supportive environment, social support services have also been made available through the Centre for Social Employment and the host family in order to further contribute to the processes of assisting the integration of refugee persons and improving the living conditions of internally displaced persons.