Ambassador Warlick Marks the World Refugee Day

June 20, 2012.

Ambassador Warlick meeting with the residents of the Krnjaca collective center for refugees and displaced people. Foto:Tanjug

Ambassador Warlick meeting with the residents of the Krnjaca collective center for refugees and displaced people. Foto:Tanjug

Ambassador Warlick commemorated World Refugee Day on June 20 with a series of visits aimed at highlighting the outstanding issues of this vulnerable population in Serbia. She reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s efforts to provide permanent housing for refugees and to close the remaining collective centers in Serbia.

The Ambassador visited a  displaced family from Kosovo living in the newly constructed $660,000 social housing building that the Department of States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) funded in the Belgrade area. She also discussed income generation support with a PRM project beneficiary who has developed a successful family pottery making business.

The Ambassador also paid a visit to one of the three remaining collective centers in Belgrade, together  with the Serbian Commissioner for Refugees, Vladimir Cucic.  She used the opportunity to talk to two resident refugee families from Croatia and discuss the problems they encounter in everyday life. In a brief media statement, the Ambassador drew attention to the problems of refugees in Serbia and confirmed the USG contribution to the regional housing program,  which will provide durable housing solutions to the most vulnerable refugees in Serbia and in the region.

The Ambassador appealed to the Serbian public to consider what it can do to help a refugee family on this day. Following the visits, the Ambassador hosted a refugee-themed luncheon attended by representatives of the Government of Serbia, the EU Delegation, UNHCR and the OSCE.