Better information on repatriated persons leads to better assistance: workshop of OSCE Mission in Kosovo

A two-day workshop to help municipal officials collect and process data on returnees and repatriated persons in Kosovo concluded in Mavrovo, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on 19 April 2013.

“The availability of up-to-date information on the numbers of returnees and repatriated persons, their employment status, as well as on their education, healthcare and housing needs is critical for the identification of priorities and the development of effective policies and assistance projects,” said Hjortur Sverrisson, Acting Director of the OSCE Mission’s Department for Human Rights and Communities.

“We provided similar training to municipal officers for communities and returns in Gjilan/Gnjilane region last October and we can already see improvements in the quality of assistance being provided to repatriated persons there.”

Based on the information collected using new databases, he said, municipal officials were able to accurately assess the needs of repatriated persons and to prioritise the delivery of assistance to 22 repatriated families in Gjilan/Gnjilane, Kamenicë/Kamenica, and Štrpce/Shtërpcë municipalities. The assistance ranged from housing construction and accommodation to medication and food and non-food items.

The workshops are part of the Mission’s support to Kosovo institutions in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to support the sustainable return and reintegration of displaced persons. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo in mandated with human right protection and promotion, democratization and public safety sector development.