1. COP 2010/2011 Protracted Refugee Situation

2. The High Commissioner’s Initiative on Protracted Refugee Situations focuses on five situations in different parts of the world where refugees have been living in exile for long periods of time. Particular attention is payd to the promotion of livelihoods and self-reliance.
Bosnian and Croatian refugees in Serbia were one of the identified situations in need of support.

3. In December 2008 a High level meeting took place in Geneva between the High Commissioner and a Serbian delegation.
Both parties agreed to make a last effort towards ensuring that the remaining refugees in Serbia would find a durable solution and that within a two year period this particular situation would finally be resolved.
In that context, SCR organised and carried out the survey based on a sample of some 800 families living in private accommodation (PA) and with assistance from UNHCR for the interviewing of all refugee families residing in collective centres (CCs).

4. The highlights of the research are:
Unemployment rate among refugees is 33%, significantly higher than in local population;
29% of refugees have monthly income less then EUR 48, which is a threshold for social welfare benefits;
61% of refugees do not have a housing solution;
Only 5% of refugees opted for repatriation to their country of origin.

5. Results of the survey in CCs
Out of 1,252 refugees in CCs, 1,217 were interviewed (97,20%)
The population in CCs is significantly older then in PA, single headed, mostly lives in extreme poverty
60% considered to be EVI
Majority opted for Local Integration (93,43%)

10. Based on the research, proposed solutions for local integration have to be found through various local integration schemes, in the sphere of
housing
employment
legal assistance
support reintegration of those refugees who decide to return to their country of origin

11. Budget for two years: USD 15,000,000
PROTRACTED REFUGEE SITUATION DURABLE SOLUTIONS ASSISTANCE FOR REFUGEES IN SERBIA
An estimated total of 5,000 refugees are expected to benefit directly from this project. An additional 20,000 people will benefit from the naturalization campaign and will take on citizenship of Serbia.
Budget for two years: USD 15,000,000

12. HOUSING Households Merging
Cash and In-Kind Assistance Programme (PIKAP)
Dignified living conditions for EVI elderly refugees accommodated in CCs
Partial Self-Help (PSH-distribution of building materials)
Village Houses
Housing Micro Loans
Social Housing in a Supported Environment (SHSE)

13. SELF RELIANCE
Enhancement of Self-Reliance through income generation grants and training
Income Generation packages for Agricultural support
Vocational Training

14. LEGAL ASSISTANCE Legal Counseling Network
Promotion of the Naturalization/Integration
Return to Croatia
Public Information Activities

15. Municipal Local Action Plans
UNHCR will support the local authorities in attaining durable solutions for the most vulnerable refugees to enable their socio-economic integration and self-reliance. This will be achieved through support to the municipal action plans prepared for implementation that will address the needs of refugees in target municipalities with central and local government support.
Consultative meetings between UNHCR, IOM Capacity Building Project, the Commissioner’s Office and other relevant stakeholders will be held and a Selection Committee comprised of UNHCR and SCR will be established to choose the municipalities and their action plans that will be supported.

16. BUDGET I YEAR Necessary funds TOTAL COSTS $3,929,886 $2,183,715
Activities
# of units in CCs
# of units in Private accommodation
Estimated Costs for 1,137 screened refugees in CCs
Estimated Costs for refugees in private accommodation
Necessary funds
Received contributions 2009 (BPRM)
Remaining Needs
Social Housing in Supportive Environment
80 families / 160 individuals
$2,498,742.86
$0.00
$2,498,743
$639,100
$1,859,643
Cash & In kind Assistance (PIKAP)
241 refugees
$206,571.43
$206,571 $0
Partial Self Help
25 families
75 families
$181,285.71
$543,857.14
$725,143
Village Houses
50 families
$767,857.14
$1,535,714
Housing Micro Loans
$251,428.57
$251,429
Return to Croatia
80 families
$200,000.40
$200,000
Legal Assistance & Naturalization
100 refugees
2,000 refugees
$24,000.00
$180,000.00
$204,000
In-kind Grants & Household Merging
60 families
$144,000.00
$144,000
Agricultural Inputs
100 families
$252,000.00
$252,000
Vocational Trainings
200 families
$96,000.00
$96,000
Support of Municipal Action Plans
400 families
$797,900.00
$797,900
UNHCR Admin & Staffing Costs
$288,500
PI Activites
$300,000
Total # of families
195
1,015 19
Total # of individuals
967
5,015 35
TOTAL COSTS
$3,929,886
$2,183,715
$7,500,000
6,860,900