After more than two decades since the beginning of the refugee crisis in our region large number of refugees and internally displaced families who have found refuge in Serbia need help. At the time of economic crisis Commissiariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia is trying to budget funds and help improve the quality of life for those who need the help the most.

Packages of basic food items, firewood and a financial assistance contribute to refugees and IDPs live and are treated with more dignity and the Commissariat allocates all possible help in accordance with the capacities. For this purpose during 2013. more than 125 million RSD were allocated.

About 2.900 families received one-time financial assistance this year. Total allocated sum for the most vulnerable ones is about 44 million RSD. The amounts range from 10.000 to 25.000 RSD and depend on the needs assessment. Eligible for this kind of help are persons who are still in the status of refugees. Very often this money is used for buying the drugs that are not on the list of those covered by compulsory health insurance.

This year, as well as during the previous four, Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia has helped 2.400 vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons spend winter and provided firewood for them. Specifically, each family got three cubic meters of wood. If winter ahead of us is going to be to be like the one in 2012. this aid will be more than welcome.

Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia was provided by funds from the budget of the Republic of Serbia who were transferred to municipalities to buy the firewood in accordance with procurement procedures and to allocate it to those most in need. For packages of firewood this year has been allocated more than 36 million RSD from the budget.

In addition to one-time financial assistance, since 2008. the most vulnerable families are provided each year with food packages. Since the beginning of the year 11.849 food packages were donated and the distribution of 4.600 packages containing flour, sugar, salt, canned food, sausages, beans and chocolate cream continues.

For this purpose, the Commissariat has allocated more than 45 million RSD, the same as last year, and the division of basic food items will be continued during 2014. Single parents, terminally ill ones and extremely poor families have priority during food packages distribution.

Help refugee and internally displaced families in accordance with the funding from the budget of the Republic of Serbia will be continued next year as well.