Organization Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has signed contracts with additional 152 flood affected families in Obrenovac, whose homes will be fully reconstructed in the next period, owing to the funds provided by the European Union. In this municipality, under the project implemented by DRC, total of 506 houses will be reconstructed out of which works are completed in 282 households.
Contracts were handed over to the beneficiaries by the Mayor of Obrenovac Miroslav Čučković, together with the representatives of DRC. Mayor Čučković emphasized his gratitude to the EU for all the assistance and significant funds allocated to help this municipality after the May 2014 floods .
“In Obrenovac, from businesses and agriculture, to schools, day care centres and houses, nothing would look the way it does today if it wasn’t for the EU. I am certain you will be satisfied when you finally move to your reconstructed homes and that, from that point on, we will all be able to look forward” said Mayor Čučković while addressing the beneficiaries.
Savings made during the project enabled DRC to assist 152 additional families with reconstruction of their flooded homes. Completion of all works is expected during the first months of 2017. Organization DRC is, apart from rehabilitation of private homes, also in the process of construction of 6 pre-fabricated houses in Obrenovac which will be equipped with all basic furniture and home appliances. Moreover, with the help of its project partner ENECA, DRC is helping small and medium enterprises in revitalization of their business activities. Owing to the European Union funds DRC was able to assist 52 small and 54 medium enterprises, as well as 38 agriculture producers in Obrenovac.
The European Union for flood relief programme in Obrenovac, when it comes to (re)construction of private houses and assistance to enterprises and agriculture producers, is implemented by three non-governmental organizations: Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V – Help, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V – ASB and the Danish Refugee Council – DRC. For this municipality, throughout the projects of these organizations, more than 4.500.000 Euros has been allocated.
The European Union Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia programme is a 78-million Euros Programme funded by the European Union. The overall objective of this action is to contribute to the efforts of the Government of Serbia to support the municipalities to restore living and working conditions, through the construction of new homes, the reconstruction of public institutions, private homes and roads and the revival of economy and agriculture in 43 municipalities hit hardest by the floods: Aleksinac, Aranđelovac, Bajina Bašta, Boljevac, Gornji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Jagodina, Kladovo, Knić, Knjaževac, Koceljeva, Kosjerić, Kovačica, Kraljevo, Krupanj, Lazarevac, Loznica, Majdanpek, Mali Zvornik, Medveđa, Negotin, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Osečina, Paraćin, Požega, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Šabac, Šid, Ub, Užice, Valjevo, Vladičin Han and Zaječar. Seven partners are implementing the Programme – the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO), the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the World Bank (WB), the Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V (Help), Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V (ASB) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) – in cooperation with the Government of Serbia’s Office for Public Investment Management (PIMO) and the European Integration Office (SEIO).
