SERBIA

INTERSOS has been working in the Balkans since 1995, initially in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Macedonia. Since the beginning of our work in the Balkans, Intersos has focused on supporting minority return of both IDPs and refugees (initially cross-entity in Bosnia, then cross-boundary with Serbia and Croatia, with preparation work currently under way in Kosovo). Strong experience in a particularly difficult post-war context was gained in Bosnia between 1995 and 2000, then in Kosovo and Serbia from 1998 onwards. INTERSOS Serbia currently focuses on the local integration of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Balkan wars in the 1990s. Currently Intersos works with IDPs from Kosovo and refugees from Bosnia and Croatia in the entire territory of Serbia proper.

The Republic of Serbia still hosts the largest refugee population in Europe. Currently some 207.993 IDPs from Kosovo and around 106,700 refugees from Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are living in Serbia. Even though more than a decade has passed since the end of the conflict in former Yugoslavia, many unresolved issues pose a threat to the stability of the region. The plight of refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Balkans is one of the most visible scars of the conflict and is in fact the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War, with more than three and a half million uprooted civilians.

Unlike refugees from BiH and Croatia, who have in large part been able to return to their place of origin, there have been few returns by the IDP population from Kosovo in the past years. The main problem faced by the IDP population is the uncertainty of their future. Their fate is dependent on the outcome of the status talks between Serbia and Kosovo, with the recent referendum results in Montenegro also having an impact on this issue.

The Serbian government, in cooperation with UNHCR, EAR, other various donors and NGOs active in the field, has recently closed most collective centres in Serbia. Available data prove that the number of refugees in Community Centers has significantly decreased, while the number of IDPs has decreased only slightly, which is indicative of the negative trend in terms of available assistance offered by different donors/NGOs and in terms of return.

During the last five years, Intersos’ strategy in Serbia has been focused on encouraging refugees and IDPs to find an alternate solution to the collective centres where they have been housed during their displacement, designed on their needs and expectations. Ten projects have been implemented by Intersos in Serbia, covering the whole territory, all aiming at supporting the exit of refugees and IDPs from community centers towards a more stable life, providing various types of solutions (individual counselling, integration, repatriation, PIKAP in-kind assistance, assisted living solutions). Focus has always been given to encourage refugees in working out a durable solution for their life: repatriation as well different integration solutions were encouraged and realized. Intersos has, in the last two years intensified its action towards refugees privately accommodated as well, through various forms of support aiming at the integration process (through housing and agriculture inputs).

INTERSOS Serbia is currently implementing the following projects:

1. Support to National Strategy for Resolving the Problems of Refugees and IDPs through Support for Individual Livelihood Enhancement. Funded by the EAR
2. Reconstruction of Reception Center for Asylum-seekers in Serbia. Funded by UNHCR