Thursday the 16th of December 2010 – Vice President Dr. Jovan Krkobabić, in the presence of the representatives of the international community, ceremonially presented to the representatives of 59 cities/municipalities in the Republic of Serbia certificates officiating the allocation of financial assistance intended for refugees and the improvement of living conditions of internally displaced persons. 

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Eduardo Arboleda, chief representative of the UNHCR in the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Adriano Martins, the deputy chief of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Thomas Moore, the deputy chief of the OSCE mission, Mr. Vladimir Cucić, the Commissioner for Refugees and other representatives from AP Vojvodina, local governments, and representatives of the relevant institutions in the Republic of Serbia.

By means of the procured funds, totalling 600,000 euros and sourced out of the budget of the Republic of Serbia, the acquisition of 120 packages of building materials intentioned for the purpose of assisting in the completion of commenced works as also for the adaptation of inadequate or derelict accommodations, along with the allocation of 145 packages of economic assistance aimed at providing additional economic support to refugee and internally displaced persons has been made possible. 

The resources in question represent the fifth instalment of the financial assistance set aside for the purpose of supporting those cities and municipalities which have actively participated in seeking effective solutions to the problems faced by refugee and internally displaced persons residing within their respective territories. The Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia, out of the budget of the Republic of Serbia, has managed to set aside a total of 4.1 million euros in the past three years, by means of which it has enabled the purchase of some 920 packages of building materials and the donation of 495 packages of economic assistance.