Thirty families were handed the keys to new apartments in Loznica, Serbia as part of support from the Regional Housing Programme (RHP).

In addition to the beneficiaries themselves, the event was attended by Slavica Jelača, the Secretary General of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Vladimir Cucić, the Serbian Commissioner for Refugees and Migration, and Vidoje Petrović, the Mayor of Loznica. Delivering the keys to the families, Ms Jelača wished them the best of luck in their new homes.

One of the beneficiaries, Olivera Dunžić, fled from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Serbia with her husband in 1995, and their two children were born in Loznica. “The difficult years are behind us, and we are looking forward decisively,” she said. “Until now, we have lived as tenants in several apartments. Today, we have  finally found a secure home. Once again, I would like to thank the donors as well as everyone else who offered us a new beginning.”

The European Union is the largest donor of the Regional Housing Programme, with other key donors being Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the United States of America.