Stara Pazova, 27 August 2018 – A number of key RHP stakeholders celebrated today the start of construction of 169 new apartments in Stara Pazova, Serbia. With a total cost of close to EUR 4 million, the building complex in Stara Pazova is one of the largest RHP construction sites in Serbia and in the RHP in general.

Altogether 1 847 vulnerable refugee families – or 5 500 persons – in 27 municipalities throughout Serbia will obtain a new home by the end of 2019 thanks to the RHP sub-project SRB5. Close to 1 300 new apartments will be constructed; the works have already started in 16 municipalities while the remaining 11 municipalities are currently in the tendering phase.

Ivica Dacic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, stated: “Within this sub-project, there are 1 847 housing solutions in preparation, in 27 local communities in Serbia, including Kamendin (Zemun) and Veternik (Novi Sad). Local self-governments, which have a significant role in the implementation of the Regional Housing Programme, have all demonstrated solidarity and strong support to the Programme”.

H.E. Sem Fabrizi, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, highlighted: “We are jointly celebrating something new today, something that goes beyond buildings – new lives for many families who have waited for their new homes for many years. European Union is the main partner to the Serbian Government in finding housing solutions for those people, supporting the RHP with a total of EUR 232 million”.

H.E. Kyle Randolph Scott, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, said: “With the RHP, we have restored hope and dignity for more than 3 000 families so far. This programme is a unique model of cooperation between the four countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and the donor community.” He reminded that the United States has contributed USD 30 million to the RHP Fund. “A house alone is not a home, that’s why we also provide free legal aid to refugees, support to entrepreneurship and building material for the finalization of houses”, said Ambassador Scott.

Djordje Radinovic, Mayor of Stara Pazova, highlighted that “the municipality of Stara Pazova is strongly committed to solving the housing problems of 25 000 refugees in our area. I would like to thank all the donors who recognized the problem and have helped us in addressing it.”

RHP info desk:  Secretariat of the Regional Housing Programme ceb-rhp@coebank.org