Wednesday the 24th of November 2010 – In the presence of the assistant to the Commissioner for matters concerning the reception, accommodation, return and integration Mr. Ivan Gerginov, the program manager of the Danish Refugee Council in the Republic of Serbia Mrs. Helen Lasen and the president of the Municipality of Kovin Mr. Slavko Branković, the construction works at the build site intended for the erection of a building to be used under the pretext of providing social housing in protected conditions for refugees, internally displaced persons and the socially vulnerable, local population from the territory of the municipality of Kovin, were ceremonially commenced.

This component of the broader project, “Support to Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Serbia for the Improvement of Living Conditions,” is being financed by means of the funds made available through the IPA 2008 program under the direction of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia.

The project aims at supporting the efforts which have been exerted on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia in the process of providing durable solutions for refugees and improving the living conditions of internally displaced persons in conjunction with the National Strategy for the resolution of problems faced by refugee and internally displaced persons.

By means of this component, lasting and sustainable solutions have been provided for a total of 15 families – 12 of the most vulnerable families of refugees and internally displaced persons currently being accommodated in the Collective Centres of, “Čardak and Kućice,” located in Deliblato and 3 socially vulnerable families from the local population.

The investment value of the project in question amounts to some 270,000 euros. The municipality of Kovin has participated to the extent of donating the land to be used as the build site, developing the main project along with all of the necessary, supporting urban planning and technical documentation, has provided the necessary supporting infrastructure and has financed the connection of the aforementioned to the existing infrastructural network.The building itself will have a total surface area of 750m2 and will be comprised of a ground floor and 3 additional floors with a total of 15 housing units of varying sizes (from 22m2 to 45m2) and one common room for set aside for communal activities.

All of the future beneficiaries will be identified by means of a selection process which is to be undertaken by a Joint Commission for the Selection of Beneficiaries comprised of the representatives of the: Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia, UNHCR, Centre for Social Employment of the municipality of Kovin and the DRC, on the basis of predefined, publicized and formally adopted criteria. The selected beneficiaries will sign contracts with the Centre for Social Employment defining the terms of use, rights and responsibilities of the parties involved.  

The proprietor of the building, the party reserving the right to determine the end beneficiaries of the housing units is the municipality of Kovin, while the management of the block of housing units is to be managed through the Centre for Social Employment of the municipality of Kovin; the institution which will be responsible for ensuring the proper use of the building in question.