In Serbia, continued displacement remains one of the major challenges. The displacement has reached a level leaving Serbia as one of the 30 countries in the world with the largest number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

According to UNHCR, more than 300,000 refugees (mainly from Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) and Croatia) and IDPs (from Kosovo) still reside in Serbia, making it the host country of the largest number of refugees and IDPs in Europe.

Even though the process of voluntary repatriation has not yet been completed, it is assumed that the majority of refugees and IDPs will opt for local integration.

Out of the 300,000 refugees and IDPs in Serbia more than 200,000 are IDPs from Kosovo. The majority of IDPs live in private accommodation and only approximately three per cent are accommodated in collective centres. In addition, more than 16,000 people are still displaced in Montenegro.

The majority of the internally displaced people in the region are still facing various protection risks i.e. physical, social and economic risks, and often they have a lack of choices concerning the future.

Durable Solutions
In Serbia and in Montenegro, DRC seeks to address the needs of refugees and IDPs through four major programmes - namely Integration, Information/Return, Civil Society and Legal Aid - with the access to rights and contingency planning being crosscutting.

DRC also advocates at both local and national level for the rights of the displaced, including the right to a durable solution, as part of all programmes. Moreover, DRC actively supports regional networking and the capacity building of local civil society organisations with special emphasis on initiatives assisting refugees and IDPs.

DRC in Belgrade
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been implementing programmes in Serbia since 1993, and is one of the most experienced international NGOs in the country. Presently, DRC operations in Serbia and in Montenegro are coordinated from the Head Office in Belgrade, with offices in Podgorica, Kraljevo, Kragujevac and Nis. DRC also has a network of partners located in various locations in both Serbia and Montenegro.

Among DRC’s international partners and donors in Serbia and Montenegro are:

• UNHCR
• The European Commission (EC)
• The US State Department Bureau for Populations, Refugees and Migrants (BPRM)