20 families return to Kosovo

20 families are returning to five villages in the district of Lipljan in Kosovo, having spent the last 8 years as displaced persons. As part of a Kosovo Ministry Project for Return and Communities, 25 houses have been built in the villages of Magura, Mali Alas, Konjuh, Rabovci and Mostina. Six are intended for Serbs, 14 for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, and five for the most endangered Albanian families in the area. 20 families return to Kosovo The returnee families will receive welfare. The Ministry for Communities and Return is financing the EUR 608,000 project which is being implemented by the Lipljan municipality and the We are Developing Together NGO. Municipalities letting down displaced persons The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo has concluded that municipalities in the province have not done enough to implement strategies on the return of displaced persons. In its strategy implementation report, the OSCE concluded that a lack of funds, access to public services and poor coordination between the competent authorities were the main factors hindering the return process, Radio Free Europe has reported. Deputy Head of the OCSE Mission in Kosovo Markku Laamanen said that a lack of political will and adherence to authority at all levels were key factors hampering efficient planning and implementation of the return strategy for displaced person to municipalities in Kosovo. “There are a number of obstacles in this process - we lack funds for projects, the political situation is unfavorable, security for return is insufficient, and access to municipal public services, education, and employment is non-existent,“ he specified.

20 families return to Kosovo

The returnee families will receive welfare. The Ministry for Communities and Return is financing the EUR 608,000 project which is being implemented by the Lipljan municipality and the We are Developing Together NGO.

Municipalities letting down displaced persons

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo has concluded that municipalities in the province have not done enough to implement strategies on the return of displaced persons.

In its strategy implementation report, the OSCE concluded that a lack of funds, access to public services and poor coordination between the competent authorities were the main factors hindering the return process, Radio Free Europe has reported.

Deputy Head of the OCSE Mission in Kosovo Markku Laamanen said that a lack of political will and adherence to authority at all levels were key factors hampering efficient planning and implementation of the return strategy for displaced person to municipalities in Kosovo.

“There are a number of obstacles in this process - we lack funds for projects, the political situation is unfavorable, security for return is insufficient, and access to municipal public services, education, and employment is non-existent,“ he specified.