"Kosovo/a Initiative" Assessment Mission

R E P O R T
2003

DRC Job no. 503-556

Supported by FRESTA
5.X.3.Balkan.2

General background

The overall situation with IDPs in Montenegro remains very difficult, as most of the IDPs are in collective centers and temporary private accommodation. The prospects for return or finding other durable solutions depend on current situation in the communities of origin in Kosovo as well as on lacking durable strategy of the Montenegrin officials regarding integration.

The largest groups of IDPs (and the estimated population is approximately 29,000 people ) are situated in the North of Montenegro (close to the administrative boundary line with Kosovo) and in the South, in the municipalities on the Montenegrin coast.

NGOs in the context of return

The main structures dealing with the issues of the IDPs are the Republican Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR and a number of local and international NGOs. There is fairly low level of involvement of local NGOs in Montenegro in dealing with problems of refugees and internally displaced people. Despite that fact the assessment team was able to meet some of the local NGOs and IDP Associations that are still active in this respect.

Other FRESTA initiatives

In terms of FRESTA funded projects in Montenegro, there are very few members of SEERAN, such as Anima from Kotor (also involved in the Triangle project), as well as DRC spin-off organisations (Alter Modus and Community Development Centre - CDC), focusing primarily on micro credits and community development. The BHRN network is registered as a legal entity in Montenegro, but with very little participation of human rights NGOs in the country itself.
Links are currently being established between the DRC spin-off NGO, CDC, and the SEERAN network, to look at common ground and potential partnerships throughout the region.

Apart from local NGOs, there are also IDP associations involved in return related assistance to the internally displaced. They are generally dissatisfied with the pace of returns and would appreciate more extensive and operational contacts with partners in the field in Kosovo.
Lack of internal capacities and resources are also an issue for these organisations and therefore require appropriate attention, as well as establishing links with other relevant NGOs in the country, be they local or international.

Based on the meetings with local organisations, the team was able to draw the following conclusions relevant for Montenegro.