Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank Rolf Venzel, Deputy Commissioner for Refugees and Migration Svetlana Velimirovic and Mayor of Belgrade Zoran Radojicic visited the Bunijevac family, refugees from Sarajevo, who moved into the newly built apartments for refugees in Ovca together with another 235 families.

"It is a great pleasure for me to be here today and to see that the people who moved in are happy and that the community is slowly forming. In the name of the Council of Europe Development Bank, I can say that I am happy that CEB participates in the Regional Housing Programme through which the housing issues are solved for numerous refugee families. Serbia is the biggest beneficiary of this Programme, and these satisfied people who after more than 20 years have a roof over their heads prove that we are doing a very important job, "said the Governor of CEB.

Mayor of Belgrade, Zoran Radojicic, expressed satisfaction after talking with the beneficiary family Bunijevac.  "There is nothing more important than having a roof over one’s head. I am happy that this family has resolved their housing issue and I am grateful to everyone who took part in it, especially the Council of Europe Development Bank, " the Mayor said.

Svetlana Velimirovic, Deputy Commissioner for Refugees and Migration, emphasized that the Commissariat is doing everything in order for the continuous implementation of the Regional Housing Programme to be successful. "Today we submitted a request for the approval of funds for the construction of additional 250 apartments for refugees in Ovca. In addition, a kindergarten and additional facilities will also be built, which will greatly contribute to the fulfilment of everyday life in the Ovca settlement , "the Deputy Commissioner explained.

Milorad Bunijevac, together with his wife and two children, thanked the Governor, Mayor and Deputy Commissioner for their visit and everything that the institutions have done so far in order his family to receive a new home after 26 years.

The Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia is the leading institution for the implementation of the Regional Housing Programme in Serbia, where more than 2,200 families have resolved their housing issues so far, including 235 families in the Ovca municipality.