The Balkans

Where do you work in the region?

The Bureau works with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other international organizations to provide assistance to the 500,000 displaced persons living in the Balkans. The Bureau's most recent funding opportunities occurred in Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, and Montenegro.

What are the major challenges for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region?

In the Balkans, many people were, and continue to be, displaced following the violent dissolution of the former-Yugoslavia. Many refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) feel unable to return to their homes due to insecurity and poor economic conditions for minorities. In Kosovo, the economy is in such bad shape that it is difficult for the displaced to find economic opportunities that would support their return. The Bureau also works to raise the visibility of statelessness and to encourage governments to develop policies to meet humanitarian responsibilities on protection and statelessness. 

How much Bureau funding went to projects in your region in fiscal year 2007 (October 1, 2006 – September 30, 2007)?

The Bureau programmed approximately $39.1 million for refugees, returnees, and IDPs in Europe, of which $12.1 million was specifically earmarked for the Balkans.

Where are your refugee coordinators based? What countries do they cover?

A refugee coordinator located in Embassy Belgrade currently covers the Bureau's issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.