Belgrade, 28 January 2005

UN-HABITAT this week received 5.9 million euros from the Italian Government to start implementation of a new housing and social integration programme for tens of thousands of war refugees and other vulnerable people in Serbia. The funds are the first allocation of a total of 15 million euros Italy is providing for the programme. It aims to provide some 670 new homes for 3,000 refugees and vulnerable people, to build institutional capacities for social housing development, assist the social and economic integration of refugees, and help boost the development capacity of local governments in their development planning and municipal information systems.

UN-HABITAT, in collaboration with the Ministry for Capital Investments, will be implementing the programme with the Municipalities of Cacak, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Nis, Pancevo, Stara Pazova and Valjevo. Known as the Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme in Serbia (SIRP), it was initiated in a memorandum UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka signed with the Government of Italy in September 2002. Under its terms, Rome will provide 15 million euros for the programme that will run for three years.