250 displaced families from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Croatia received keys to new Regional Housing Programme (RHP) homes in Ovča, Serbia.

By the time that the RHP comes to an end later in 2023, close to 11 300 families across BiH, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia will have received secure homes.

On behalf of the EU, the main Donor to the RHP, Emanuele Giaufret, Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia extended his congratulations and well-wishes to all RHP beneficiaries. “ʻImati svoj krov nad glavom’ [Having a roof over your head] is a Serbian expression that is today becoming a reality for 250 families who will receive long-term durable solutions in the pursuit of housing – a new phase in their lives, a new space that they can call home,” he said.

Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia warmly thanked all countries that had donated funds for the delivery of homes under the RHP. He pointed out that thanks to these contributions, 724 people would live in the 250 newly-built apartments in Ovča.

On behalf of the 250 beneficiary families, Rajka Kesić thanked all RHP stakeholders and everyone who had not forgotten the refugees. “Today is a big day, both for my family and for all of us who will finally have our own homes,” she stated. “We are looking forward to a new and more promising chapter in our lives.”