New ‘homes’ in Serbian temporary settlements are still far from acceptable

On 31 August 2009 the inhabitants of the Gazela informal settlement in Belgrade were resettled to temporary accommodation at four sites outside of Belgrade. After a visit conducted by partner group CEKOR in September which found a number of important issues needing to be addressed, Bankwatch carried out a follow-up fact-finding mission on 6-8 October 2009.

Some improvements in the current conditions have taken place, however as the colder weather sets in, heaters need to be urgently provided. Employment and the plans for the long-term resettlement of the project-affected people remain to be resolved. Similarly the sustainability of the resettlement of those who originally came from outside of Belgrade needs to be addressed, as around 20 out of the 60 families who were taken to their towns of origin in southern Serbia have already returned to Belgrade to live in informal settlements.

See pictures showing the situation in the new settlements in our Photo Gallery or read the new report from Bankwatch’s follow-up fact-finding mission (pdf) in October, producing evidence on the reality in and outside Belgrade and on a Resettlement Action Plan that still needs a lot of work before it meets either the EIB’s or the EBRD’s standards.