BELGRADE – Assistant Minister for Sustainable Return and Subsistence in the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija, Branislav Ristic, together with representatives of the Serbian local self-government of the Municipality of Istok, visited Serbian families who have returned to villages of Zhac and Dragoljevac. A total of 24 residents have returned to the village of Zhac, and 14 to the village of Dragoljevac.

Since their houses have been destroyed, the returnees are staying in tents and are currently working on clearing the terrain and creating conditions for rebuilding their homes. Assistant Minister for Sustainable Return and Subsistence, Branislav Ristic, emphasized that the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija will send emergency aid of food and basic supplies, as well as tools and machinery needed so that the returnee families could build a roof over their heads as soon as possible.

Even though their houses have been destroyed, the villagers of Zhac and Dragoljevac have started working on their fields and preparing them for spring sowing. The Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija will also provide any help the villagers need for cultivating their fields.

Assistant Minister Branislav Ristic also visited Gorazhdevac where he talked to the representatives of the Serbian local self-government about the return of Serbian families to the village of Crni Vrh and to other locations in the Municipality of Pec.

The Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija will do everything to help all residents return to these villages and other exiled Kosovo Serbs return to their homes, but also create conditions not only for the return, but also for sustainable subsistence in Kosovo and Metohija and the development of these areas.

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