Monday, July 4, 2011 – Within the premises of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia and Victoria Group which initiated organized and systematic solving of housing issues of the refugees and internally displaced persons who live in informal collective centers in the Republic of Serbia.

Considering the fact that solving the housing problems of refugees and internally displaced persons is essential for improving the socio-economic status of the most vulnerable social groups and reduction of poverty in the Republic of Serbia, Victoria Group as a socially responsible company, in association with the authorized institutions of the Republic of Serbia and under the patronage of Dr. Jovan Krkobabic, the Vice Prime Minister of Serbia in charge of social affairs, decided to initiate actions that would provide durable and sustainable solutions for the issues of the persons living within informal collective centers.

In accordance with the concept of socially responsible management, by which every major company integrates economic, social and ecological imperatives within its everyday business, thus contributing to their own and progress of society, Victoria Group provided 48,700 Euros for organized and planned closing of the informal collective centre in Zrenjanin.

During the first phase of implementation of the Memorandum, the aforementioned funds will provide durable and sustainable solutions for the issues of 10 families of refugees and internally displaced persons accommodated within the housing units which belong to “Termotoplana” in Zrenjanin. The allocated funds provided purchase of village households for 7 families, while each of the remaining 3 will be supported by a package of building materials intended for adaptation of an inadequate housing unit and subsidies.

After 19 years of exile, there still are 74,500 refugees and 210,000 IDPs from Kosovo and Metohija in Serbia, 3,910 persons of which have been accommodated within 52 official collective centers, another 2,000 within informal collective centers and 17,000 families of refugees and IDPs still live below the poverty line. This is why social responsibility, support and active involvement of successful economic entities are vital for solving existential problems of the socially vulnerable.