After these visits they are easier able to take decision on either to return or to integrate in environment where they live now.
EVALUATION
Since the year 2000 , until the time when the co-operation with NRC was established, 227 persons, organised by our association, visited their homes in Sredacka Zupa region , in Prizren district (villages: Gornje Selo, Musnikovo, Bogosevce, Sredska, Drajcici, Planjane, Lokvica) and in villages of Novake and Smac. For only seven months of co-operation with NRC 144 persons visited their homes thanking to good co-ordination of UNCHR Belgrade and UNHCR Prizren.
Graph 1.
In reporting period the highest number of IDPs interested in visits visited the village of Drajcici (32). There were altogether 77 visits from beginning of the visits.
Chart 2 is shoving the number of visits in period September 2002 -March 2003.
Chart 2.
The village of Sredska (18 visitors in period September 2002-March 2003). The village was always inhabited only by Serbs. After the exodus, the village remained empty. The visits to this village were banned in 2001. The first returnee, Mr.Zoran Stevanovic, had returned on his own initiative in August 2002 . After his return the process of return to this village is continuing but more slowly than expected. Since the year 2000 total of 89 citizens had visited Sredska.
Gornje Selo (12 visitors in reporting period). Since the exodus in 1999 until August 2002 there were no Serbs in the village. The first returnee was our first participant in GO-AND-SEE visits to this village - Mr. Vuckovic Slobodan. Today 4 families live in the village with altogether 7 family members. The interest shown for return to Gornje Selo is high. The village was inhabited by Serbs and Muslims. 14 IDP have visited the village since the year 2002.
Planjane was visited by 5 persons in reporting period. Besides the Muslims the village is inhabited by members of Serbian community. After the exodus in Planjane village remained certain number of aged Serbian families. They still live with Muslims there. The total number of visits to this village since the year 2000 is 21.
Drajcici village was visited by 32 persons in period September 2002 - March 2003. After the exodus 22 Serbs remained to live in the village together with the Muslims. 10 returnees joined to them. Although the visits to village of Drajcici are very difficult to make, due to it's geographic position, it was noticeable that the IDPs are very much attached to their homeland. During the longer period of blockade of road Brezovica-Strpce, due to the high snow (for two weeks in February 2003) the beneficiaries insisted on organising of visits what was done on 6th February 2003 and during the visit 9 IDPs passed by walking through 7 km long blocked mountain passes and arrived to their family members. 77 persons visited Drajcici since the year 2000 which is considered as the starting point for GO-AND-SEE visits.
Stajkovce was visited in reporting period by 19 persons. The village was always inhabited only by the Serbs. Today this village has no inhabitants. The total number of visits to Stajkovce village, organised by our association, in period 2000 - March 2003 is 21.
Musnikovo was visited by 16 persons in 7 months long period. The village is inhabited by Serbs and Muslims. It is situated near main road. After the exodus of Serbs certain number of Serbs remained to live there. Misnikovo is the only village in Serdacka Zupa region in which the life after 1999 was going without major problems. The village is once a week visited by medical team. The regular shuttle is operating between Musnikovo and Brezovica. One part of village is inhabited by Serbs and the other by Muslims. Taking in consideration the moving between Minikovo and Brezovica it is very difficult to quote the exact number of Serbs living there and the number of returnees. Total number of visits to this village, organised by our association, was 57 in period year 2000-March 2003.
Bogosevce village was visited by 17 persons in period of time of 7 months. The village was always inhabited exclusively by the Serbs. After the exodus only 5 elderly people remained in Bogosevce and they survived until today. The first returnees were members of Tanaskovic family, beneficiaries of an our GO-AND-SEE visit, who decided to stay in the village after their visit in October . Total number of the visitors since the year 2000 had been 53.
Smac is the village in southern Metohija now inhabited by Albanians Catholics. Before the exodus the Serbs from this village had been living with the neighbours in harmony. After the exodus there were no Serbs living there. Only 3 beneficiaries visited this village assisted by our association. Although the visits to this village are possible and organised return and construction of family houses is planned there is no people interested in visiting this village.
Musutiste (visited by 3 persons) is the village currently without representatives of Serbian community. In spite all the efforts made the village was not visited by IDPs but the improvement represents the fact that on 3 September 2002 commenced the first talks in Austrian base “ Casablanca ” on possibilities of return.
Novake village in southern Metohija, before the exodus was inhabited only by the Serbs . It was visited by 11 persons in arrangement made by our organisation. After the 1999 all the houses (more than 100) were demolished and levelled with the ground . The Serbs - inhabitants of this village- were always living in harmony with Albanians Catholics from neighbouring villages and after the talks of relevant factors (UNHCR, UNMIK, UN, civilian administration, local authorities) with representatives of neighbouring villages , in June 2002 , the favourable conditions were quickly created for acceptance of returnees by their neighbours from neighbouring villages. In April 2003 had started the building of family houses for returnees in this village.
The town of Prizren was visited by 24 persons in period 24 November 2002-March 2003. The visit to usurped family houses was enabled to exiles from Prizren by assistance of UNHCR. In February Rakic couple stayed in their house in settlement Potkaljaja for 3 weeks. In January 2003 was established regular bus line from Brezovica to Prizren what enabled communication with this town. After the exodus of Serbs about 70 individuals remained to live in Prizren, accommodated at building of Religious School, at the Potkaljaja settlement and in their family houses in other parts of town. It is noticeable that the situation is normalising, that there is freedom of movement and that Serbs communicate in this town what is result of centuries long good relations among Serbs, Albanians, Turks, Muslims, Roma and others.
The chart 3. Is showing the total number of visits in years 2000- 2003.
As the part of preparations for the visits the representatives of our association interview the persons interested in visits and inform them on the situation they will face during the visit. Since the association collected extensive database of photographs and video material the beneficiaries who are to make visit to their homes for the first time are having chance to be informed by presenting the mentioned material. The interviews are also made after the visits to the homes and the protocols with impressions and remarks were made. The contact of those who had visited their homes with those who hadn't made visits so far were also established.
Thanking to co-operation with office of “Sveti Spas” Association in Nis and the offices of “UNIJA”, Union of Associations of IDPs from Kosovo and Metohija, our association is in position to assist to IDPs with its services in whole territory of Serbia . The members of UNIJA Association are associations “Sveti Spas” from Belgrade , “Glas Kosova i Metohije”, from Belgrade , “Bozur” from Smederevska Palanka, “Jug” , from Kraljevo and “Andjeo” from Kraljevo. Independently from the membership to UNIJA the chance is created for other associations and individuals to join to visits both to their homes in the territory of Prizren region, which is already included in visits, and to the other parts of Kosovo and Metohija which are organised by our partners. It is enough to check-in by one of the organisations because the requests are coming to joint database.
The chart 4 shows the number of beneficiaries of GO-AND-SEE visits in towns in Serbia .
CONCLUSION
The connection with the homeland is again established. The first returnees are in their homes. The GO-AND-SEE visits undoubtedly have contributed to the return. We are aware that the first returns were realised relatively late and that the number of returnees is still negligible. From the standpoint of only one of the organisations dealing with the returns we think that our effort is worth of mentioning and that the similar contribution of majority of association and humanitarian organisations dealing with returns would significantly change demographic picture and statistics of the returns.
We believe that it is obligation of all those dealing with returns, first of all of international community, as the part of process of confidence building and strengthening of desire for return, to make the return viable, to make the return to urban areas possible as soon as possible, to provide favourable security conditions, to create chances for employment, education in own language and informing and to provide adequate health protection.
If it is really frankly wanted to have return of IDPs it is necessary to pay more attention to non-Albanian population which is currently living in Kosovo and Metohija. Regretfully, day to day life of these communities warns that they have been forgotten and left alone. Although the security situation in Kosovo and Metohija is still not satisfactory, the great extent of desire for return to own homes and constant assurances given by Albanians, Turks, Muslims, Roma and others saying that only living together represents the desirable solution for members of all communities, gives us reasons to believe that the dreams of refugees , exiles and displaced persons will be fulfilled - to return to homeland.
The realisation of project supported by
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