DEMOCRATIC ROMA ASSOCIATION (DUR) - On 20.04.2010, between 7-8 am in the morning, the Roma settlement on Lazar Kujundzic Street in the municipal district of Cukarica [in Belgrade] was demolished. 38 Roma families, or over 150 residents, lived in this settlement. According to the accounts of residents everything played itself out by surprise and with incredible speed, accompanied by the use of force on the part of those hired to undertake the clearing operation in an attempt to ensure that the residents would be chased from their homes.

As a result, the residents weren't able to save and protect the majority of their belongings from the demolition - including personal belongings and household appliances. Residents succeeded in saving only that which they were able to carry with them in their hands, since they were prevented from accessing their houses.

Those living in the settlement are individuals who are registered in Vladicin Han, Surdulica and in other locations, but who came to Belgrade because they were unable to secure an existence for themselves and their families in these other places.

Municipal officials and representatives of the Roma National Council promised the displaced Roma that they will secure for them temporary shelter and food until they are transported back to the places where they are registered. However, from all these promises nothing has materialized and the displaced Roma spent their first night after the demolition in the Roma cultural center "Cukarica" in Zeleznik, forced to sleep on cement floors, without mattresses, blankets and food. As a result the health of all the displaced has been effected, especially the health of the children.

The following day 21.04.2010 the displaced Roma were again promised from their municipal representatives and by the National Council that a bus would come to pick them up that will take them to the municipalities in which they are registered. They were also promised financial assistance that would aid them in securing housing in their registered municipalities and that they would receive adequate social security benefits from their local Centers for Social Work.

22.04.2010 at around 6pm, Roma representatives from the municipality of Cukarica arrived with a bus and handed to each displaced resident that entered the bus an envelope with cash-aid that ranged from 10,000 to 20,000 dinars [NB. roughly $100-200]. This amount can hardly meet the monthly existential needs of the 31 families whose houses were demolished two days previously, however, due to hunger and fear they had chose to accept this assistance.

IN the Roma Cultural Center in Zarkovo, the 7 that are actually registered in Belgrade have remained, they have been promised accommodation on the territory of the city, though the exact location and date for finding a solution to their housing situation are not known.

YOUTUBE VIDEO Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPwNIk9vWIA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsvQGR6wFVo

Demokratsko Udruženje Roma - DUR

http://www.dur.org.rs