With UN support, construction of new housing units begins in Serbia

Top government and civil society leaders have formally laid the first foundations of new homes under a housing and social integration programme for tens of thousands of war refugees and other vulnerable people in Serbia being supported by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).

The programme 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 displaced people, and help boost the development capacity of local governments in their development planning and municipal information systems, the agency said in a press release.

Special ceremonies were held in the municipality of Niš on 9 August, following others in different areas, where senior government and local officials were at hand to witness the start of the initiative.

The Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme in Serbia is a three-year effort being funded by the Government of Italy.