AID FOR SOCIALLY VULNERABLE PERSONS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THROUGH THE INTERNET PLATFORM

6. April 2020.

Presevo, Bujanovac- A unique platform where donors can see the needs of the most vulnerable municipalities in Serbia is available online, and by simple searching, donors can choose a local self-government or institution they want to assist and communicate with the authorities.

The platform was launched by the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) and among the first municipalities that contacted the NALED were those underdeveloped from southern Serbia.

“First needs exceed 80 million dinars. These are the municipalities with a large number of elderly households and families in a difficult financial position. The work of volunteers and contact centers is not sufficient, while donor funds would provide food and hygiene packages for households with the below-average incomes”, representatives of the NALED said.

According to them, the focus of the platform is on the underdeveloped municipalities, since assistance is needed there the most, while Violeta Jovanovic, the Executive Director, says that this is how local self-governments, health care institutions and socially responsible companies and individuals connect.

All legal and natural persons and international organizations can, through a simple search, see and select the local self-government or institution they wish to assist, after which they will be redirected to contact persons and notified of further steps. The call was also sent to people in the diaspora who are originally from the vulnerable municipalities.

The NALED was also contacted by the local self-governments of Pirot, Razanj, Vranje, Bujanovac and Presevo, which sought medicines and medical equipment.

“The aid is intended for health care centers and health care professionals who are on the front lines, as well as for public company employees who have to go to work during the state of emergency”, Ms. Jovanovic said.

The underdeveloped municipalities also need computers to make it possible for public administration workers to work from home, so that the NALED has proposed to the Government of Serbia an initiative to set up a Fund for Supporting Vulnerable Municipalities and Cities.

Source: South Serbia News and Coordination Body