As many as 43 families – 27 in Bela Palanka and 16 in Kladovo – will soon move into new homes thanks to the EU-funded project “European Union Support for Improving the Living Conditions of Forced Migrants” that is a part of a more comprehensive programme aimed at improving living conditions of forced migrants titled “For a Better Life”, worth a total of EUR14.2 million.

The Official Ceremony of signing the Contracts on Cooperation for construction of housing units within a larger size prefabricated house for 6 single-headed families and 3 prefabricated houses for 3 multi-member families has been held in Bela Palanka.

The aim of the Project is to provide support in improving living conditions for refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees under the readmission agreement accommodated in “Hotel ES i Remizijana” Collective Center and a number of most vulnerable domicile families living in Bela Palanka Municipality.

The Project “European Union Support for Improving of the living Conditions of Forced Migrants” is implemented by the Danish Refugee Council with the support of the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia.

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Within the project, a total of 18 apartment units within the Social Housing in Supportive Environment Building will also be built. The approximate value of the building, including installations, standard equipping and basic furnishing will be EUR329.000.

The prefabricated houses and the SHSE building will be built on the municipal plots of land. Out of the total number of housing units, approximately 20% will be from socially vulnerable local population. The approximate value of the prefabricated housing units with basic furnishing will be EUR115.000.

In Kladovo the Official Ceremony was held, announcing the signing of Memorandum of Understanding for construction of another larger size prefabricated house comprising 4 smaller housing units.

In total, the residential block of prefabricated houses will have four larger size prefabricated houses, each comprising 4 prefabricated apartment units for single-headed families (12 refugee and internally displaced families from the Collective Center “Karatas” and 4 most vulnerable domicile families).

The approximate value of a prefabricated housing block with basic furnishing will be approximately EUR170.000, funded by Delegation of the European Union.

Kladovo Municipality will be the owner of housing units with all the rights and responsibilities emanating thereof, while the residents of prefabricated housing units will have the right of use without gaining property. Kladovo Municipality will participate in the Project by donating the construction plot equipped with all necessary infrastructure and urban planning and technical documentation.

Danish Refugee Council and Humanitarian Centre for Integration and Tolerance will assist the families to obtain personal documents necessary for participation in the project, as well as to prepare for independent living conditions in this type of housing solution.

Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the Centre for Social Work in Kladovo will offer all necessary support for the implementation of these activities, with the aim of providing durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons who have been living in the harsh conditions of the collective center for years.

Press Release CoC Signing Ceremony IPA 2012 Bela Palanka 21 Jan 2015.doc

PRESS RELEASE.doc