Representatives of the Delegation of the European Union, UN agencies and Serbian state institutions visit Sid

Vranje, 25 May 2018 – Mr. Nicolas Bizel, Head of Operations 1 in the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Slobodan Milenković, Mayor of Vranje, representatives of the State and UN agencies visited the Reception Center for Migrants in Vranje, exhibition „Memories left behind“, preview of the theater play organized and played by local and migrant children with their parents, primary school “Radoje Domanovic“ and Health Care Center in Vranje. The visit was organized within the EU Support to Migration Management in Serbia.

Accommodation for migrants, food, health care, education, protection services especially for children and other vulnerable categories have been funded by EU. EU covers operational costs of the accommodation facilities and staff.

Mr. Nicolas Bizel, Head of Operations 1 in the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, joined by other officials paid visit to the first-aid station, children’s’ corner, classroom for older children and bedrooms for migrants.

„We were ensured that assistance of European Union reached migrants adequately. With almost EUR 100 million of assistance, European Union counts as the largest donor to Serbia in migration management. Our assistance has reached migrants and local communities which gave significant contribution during increased inflow of migrants to the territory of the Republic of Serbia. I am glad that we have witnessed here a normal coexistence of local and migrant population. Migrant children attend schools with children from Vranje jointly and the teaching is taking place in modernly equipped classrooms owing to the European Union. We have assisted functioning of the Health Care Center in Vranje with donation of the modern microbiological equipment, ambulance vehicle and engagement of two medical technicians“, emphasized Mr. Bizel.

Mr. Slobodan Milenkovic, Mayor of Vranje stated that continuous investment in infrastructure, improvement of education system, modernization of the health care protection, further strengthening of the institutional capacities are some of the determining factors of the sustainable development.

„Important projects have been implemented in Vranje as one of the cities on the migrant route, with the support of European Union and Government of the Republic of Serbia such as: procurement of the ambulance vehicle for the needs of the Health Care Center “Vranje“, purchase of the equipment for microbiological examinations and engagement of professionals, equipping of the primary school “Radoje Domanovic“ in Vranje with furniture, IT and sports equipment, didactic materials. Contingency plan of health care services was made, which is to enable efficient response of the health care institution on the territory in cases of crises“, stated Mayor Milenkovic.

Exhibition “Memories left behind“ is composed of 20 photographs of migrant children toys left behind during existence of the Western Balkans Route and transiting of the territory of the Republic of Serbia by thousands of migrants. The exhibition was set at the plateau of the National Museum and will be relocated in the Cultural Center (at the Gallery of the National University).

Students, parents and teachers of the primary school “Radoje Domanovic“ have presented preview of the theatre play on the occasion of celebration of a School Day with local and migrant children, their parents and teachers playing roles. The topic is educational and the scenario is based on real school life events.

On the occasion of the visit of the primary school “Radoje Domanovic“, guests had opportunity to see equipment tables, chairs, IT and sports equipment, as well as didactic material, purchased with EU funds.

The aforementioned activities of support to Vranje as a city-host to migrants, were implemented by United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).