Physical Health Serbia Project #21226

Emergency Support for Syrian Refugees in Serbia

by Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation

Emergency Support for Syrian Refugees in Serbia

Project Report | Apr 14, 2016
FINAL PROJECT REPORT

By Uros Delic | Project leader

Delivery of support to the refugee family.

FINAL PROJECT REPORT

REPORT 3 - SUPPORT FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES IN SERBIA

Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, April, 2016

Since August 2015 Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation has been actively involved in provision of humanitarian assistance to refugees from Middle East who were constantly passing through Serbia on their way to European Union.

In the first months, focus was to provide water, food and hygienic packages as well as mobile toilets due to the very hot weather and high risk of infections. During the winter months, we had emergency teams available 24/7 on three spots – Belgrade, Sid (border with Croatia) and Dimitrovgrad (border with Bulgaria) constantly providing refugees with food, hygienic packages and winter clothes (boots, jackets, caps, scarfs, etc.). It was a priority to equip the refugees with winter clothes, since they have started they travel during summer and they were exposed to the really cold weather.

To sum up, in period August 2015 – April 2016 we have distributed 100 tons of humanitarian assistance and supported over 100.000 refugees with food, water, winter clothes, hygienic kits and other non-food items. Besides, we have also provided additional support:

16 multipurpose mobile containers for different use – ambulance, pediatrics, storage, sleeping place, mothers/baby rest area.
20 mobile toilets
Medicines for medical treatment
Refurbish of several objects used as meeting or resting points for the refugees in Serbia

We firmly believe that all the people deserve help, no matter of religion, age or skin color. Guided with that idea we will continue to provide help to the refugees in Serbia. In September 2015, we have gathered national representatives of 4 religious communities – Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim and Jewish who altogether with our founder, ex-NBA star Mr. Vlade Divac, sent joint message of humanity and philanthropy.

For us, it was also very important to share stories of refugees through traditional media, social media and our newsletter. We have invested great effort to inform our donors on real human stories and position of thousands of families on their epic journey to a better life.

We are also very thankful to the GlobalGiving who have recognized our efforts and supported our project in the amount of 36.850$. The following assistance was provided with this amount:

1.000 Kids New Year's packages (small toys, chocolates, juices, gloves, etc.)
5.000 Food packages (including canned food, bread, nuts, protein bars, etc.)
4.000 Hygiene packages

Since the closure of the Balkan route in March 2016, over 2.000 refugees got stranded in Serbia. Refugee crisis remain a complex problem and, having in mind the new context, this problem cannot be solved only by providing food and non-food items. Involvement of local community is needed as well as provision of occupational activities and vocational trainings for those who are in asylum and reception centers. The goal of our most recent project is a reconstruction of one of the biggest asylum centers in Serbia. After the reconstruction, we will start providing vocational training for the man and woman in the center, but also organize educational and fun activities for children.

We are very thankful to all our donors for their commitment and joint effort to secure relief and necessary assistance.

New boots for the refugee child.

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Jan 15, 2016
Update: Refugee relief in Serbia, January 2016

By Uros Delic | Project leader

Message of humanity with 4 religious leaders

REPORT 2 - SUPPORT FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES IN SERBIA

ANA AND VLADE DIVAC FOUNDATION, January, 2016

Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation has been focused on refugee relief since August 2015. So far, we have provided 50 tons of food, water, medicines, hygiene packages and winter clothes (jackets, boots, and hats) for over 30.000 refugees.

Firstly, we have provided food, medicines, water and hygienic packages, mobile toilets, etc. During autumn and winter, our focus shifted on delivering winter clothes (refugee families are traveling in light clothes, often without winter shoes/jackets), as well as food, water/ hygiene packages. Foundation and its partners are also providing medical assistance, since many refugees have different injuries from long traveling; babies and children are sick and exhausted, and medical treatments are highly needed.

With support of many international organizations, companies and individual donors, Foundation has organized mobile teams that provide support to the refugees 24/7. We are assisting refugees at two state borders –Bulgaria-Serbia and Serbia-Croatia, in addition to the Belgrade (Serbian capital) transit site.

In addition to the humanitarian relief, Foundation is raising awareness on refugees’ needs, challenges they are facing, and raising public responsiveness through traditional and social media, and volunteers’ actions.

During the last 5 months, we have provided:

50 tons of food, water and hygienic packages and winter clothes for over 30.000 refugees
16 multipurpose mobile containers for different use – ambulance, pediatrics, storage, sleeping place, mothers/baby rest area.
20 mobile toilets
Medicines for medical treatment.

Refugees keep arriving; this January, around 2.000 people per day are entering Serbia. Using the needs-based approach, Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation will continue to assist all the refugees passing through Serbia.

We are very thankful to all our donors for their commitment, and joint efforts to secure relief and necessary assistance.

Attachments:

Abdullah's story (PDF)

2 Attachments

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Oct 22, 2015
Support for Syrian Refugees in Serbia - report

By Uros Delic | Project Leader

During 2015, millions of people have fled their homes and countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, escaping war, disaster and other crisis. The daily flow of men, women and children has become one of the largest refugee exoduses since the World War II and one of the primary routes taken by refugees on their journey to countries of the European Union has been passing through Serbia. Refugees are on the move seeking asylum and a better life in the European Union. To do so, they are travelling thousands of miles and facing many forms of danger on their path to a better life, with Serbia being one the countries they transit and the last before entering the EU. The total number of asylum applications in Serbia this year is 195,000.

Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation support

From the moment of escalating the refugee’s crisis during the summer, Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, one of the first private humanitarian organization and foundations in Serbia, started its activities on providing and delivering help for refugees from Middle East. Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation team has 8 years experience in helping refugees and displaced persons, since the Foundation was primarily founded to solve the issue of refugees from ex-Yugoslavia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and internally displaced persons from Kosovo.

Since, during the summer months, the most of the refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq were in Belgrade, in the parks near main bust station (almost 2.000 day per day), it was necessary to provide basic hygienic infrastructure. Thanks to the corporate donors, Ana and Vlade Divac provided 5 mobile toilets for parks near Belgrade bus station and 5 mobile containers to be placed in Miksalište, the object that was become humanitarian aid delivering point for refugees in Belgrade. Purpose of one of these containers is to serve as a room for pediatric checkups, a nursery, space for washing machines etc.

For the first time in Serbia, World Charity Day (September the 5^th) have been celebrated by Divac Foundation and a lot of volunteers who have delivered huge amount of food and water to the refugees.

The action of the most importance among refugees and in Serbian and international public was organized together with representative of 4 traditional religious communities in Serbia, Serbian Orthodox Church, Islamic Community of Serbia, Belgrade Archiodeces of Catholic Church and Jewish Community. Vlade Divac, founder of Divac Foundation together with religious representatives visited refugees in one of Belgrade parks, talked to them and sent joint message of humanity, solidarity stating that is not matter the race, nationality or religion when people need help and support.

On the occasion of the Curban Bayrami, great Islamic religious holiday, Ana and Vlade Divac organized Bayrami “sofra” (lunch) for refugees from Syria and Afghanistan that were celebrating their holiday away from their homes. The people gathered in the park near Belgrade bus station were happy after a long period spending that day in joy.

All the listed activities had great media coverage and have attracted a lot of positive comments within population in Serbia, corporate sector and CSO’s as well. Divac Foundation have also involved a lot of volunteers who join our activities and help delivering of the different goods. Divac Foundation have organized 15 humanitarian actions of delivering necessary humanitarian aid. So far, Divac Foundation distributed more than 15.000 units of food, and sweeets, 15.000 units of water and juices, 2.000 hygienic packages, 500 sleeping bags, 300 raincoats and 300 blankets in Belgrade and in Šid near border to Croatia. Three times a week, Foundation team volunteers at spots for distribution and delivering humanitarian aid (food, clothes etc.), that is brought by citizens, companies, national and international organizations.

The activities of the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation on refugee aid were supported by numerous individual donors, companies and organizations: American Economy Chamber in Serbia, lawyer’s office BDK Advokati, KPMG, Ball Packaging, Mondelez International, Catholic Relief Services, Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH), Ms. Jelena Bin Drai, Coca Cola, etc.

The help is still needed! These people need the most raincoats, tents, hygienic packages, food, water, winter shoes.

JOIN US TO HELP! THANK YOU!

www.divac.com

Bayrami "sofra" (lunch) for refugees in Belgrade

Links:

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