Mr. Chaloka Beyani, special rapporteur of the UN Secretary General in charge of the rights of internally displaced persons, paid a two-day visit to Serbia.

In order to be adequately informed about the needs, existing programs, the challenges faced by the Republic of Serbia in the existential issues of IDPs and convenient ways to end forced displacement in the western Balkans, Mr. Beyani met with Commissioner for Refugees and Migration Mr. Vladimir Cucić.

 

During the two-hour meeting, Commissioner Cucić informed the participants about the property and other violations of the rights of IDPs in Kosovo and Metohija, the lack of sustainable return and the efforts of the Republic of Serbia to provide IDPs with dignified living conditions in displacement.

Commissioner Cucić and Mr. Beyani agreed on the necessity of forming donor fund that would provide permanent and sustainable housing for 97.000 internally displaced persons living below the poverty line, according to a survey by UNHCR. On this occasion, Mr. Beyani has pledged to support the initiative of the Republic of Serbia in organizing a donor conference to raise funds intended for the most vulnerable internally displaced persons.

 

On the second day of his visit, Mr. Beyani has visited a collective center "ORA Sartid" in Smederevo to see the necessity of closing collective centers, and met with beneficiaries of social housing in protected conditions, beneficiaries of construction material and purchased households with a garden, which are due to these programs moved from collective centers to their new homes.