PREŠEVO – On December 5, 2017, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a U.S. government agency, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Serbia inaugurated a new 1,000 cubic meter reservoir and a renovated 500 cubic meter reservoir in Preševo.

“The U.S. government provided $ 2 million to help the most affected municipalities in Serbia to recover from the impact of the migration crisis and support their sustainable development,” said U.S. Ambassador Kyle Scott. “In Preševo, USAID provided $200,000, and the Municipality of Preševo provided an additional $160,000, to build a new reservoir and to restore an existing reservoir. Combined, these two reservoirs ensure the supply of a sufficient, reliable quantity of potable water for the city’s residents and the migrants residing in the reception center.”

“Preševo endured  a great deal of the migrant pressure that put an additional strain on the local instrastructure. The local population, and all of Serbia, have shown great solidarity with the migrants despite fear that the large influx will additionally endager local development,” said the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Branko Ružić.  

“I am glad that the Preševo municipality begun to deal with the water supply problem that we were struggling with for many years.The reconstruction of the existing and construction of a new reservoir, are the first key step towads a better and more reliable supply of water, by which we are improving the living conditions for local residents and migrants alike,” said the former mayor of Preševo and Head of the Interim Council Shqiprim Arifi. “Additionally, the resolution of this long term problem will create better conditions for the economic development of our community.”

USAID’s assistance also helped Preševo to improve its waste management. Working with the public utility company Moravica, it provided the village of Miratovac with 1,000 garbage bins.  

The Preševo reservoir is part of USAID’s Enhancing Local Resilience to the Migration Crisis project, implemented by UNDP. The project helps improve public services and infrastructure in Serbian municipalities affected by the migrant crisis.