Regional Weekly Update - ORC nedeljnik
11 -17 September - PRIZREN REGION
• Six Ashkali refugee families have signed application forms for return to Suva Reka town. • Works on the Radesa Bridge will commence shortly. |
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On 15 September, the RRU participated in a Suva Reka Urban Returns TF meeting to agree on the next steps. The meeting noted that, following the previous week's successful 'Go and Inform' visit (GIV) to Macedonia , 6 out of 7 Ashkali refugee families had signed UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation Application Forms confirming their wish to return to Suva Reka town . It was observed that ARC could not assist potential beneficiaries unless their outstanding property issues were resolved. The Deputy MR agreed to take this up with the Directorate for Juridical and Property Affairs.
The ICS Task Force (TF) meeting was held on 15 September in Dragas. The meeting was convened to discuss the Radesa bridge infrastructure component of the project and to receive an update from ICS on the tendering process. The municipality, ICS, the village representative and ICMC signed the MOU for the bridge. ICS reported that the tender was publicly opened on 7 September and that the contract would be awarded shortly with a view to commencing works by 20 September.
The new RRRF Coordinator, Eva Kitzler, paid a courtesy visit to Prizren RRU on 15 September, during which discussions centred around 17 cases referred by ICMC for housing reconstruction in Smac and Gornje Srbica. Regarding the sustainability of returnees, those present agreed that the initial period after return is generally the most difficult, and the ability of the returnees to generate income is a decisive factor as to whether or not they remains in their place of origin in Kosovo. The RRRF co-coordinator confirmed that, in addition to sustainability inputs to be provided by ICMC, returnees to these two villages would benefit from socio-economic assistance from RRRF.
Contact: John Piletich, phone: 038/ 504-604/ ext.7129, e-mail: piletich@un.org