Proposal for the establishment in Vitebsk or social rental apartment building for refugees with equal financial participation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR) and local authorities will be considered at the level of international organizations, the deputy chief of the Employment Committee on Labor, Employment and Social Protection Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Lyudmila Zaitseva. Willingness to consider such an option assistance to forced migrants voiced UNHCR Representative in Belarus Jean-Yves Bouchard.

May 19-20, Jean-Yves Bouchard paid a familiarization visit to Vitebsk, where he met with the leaders of the region, representatives of various departments, public organizations and to discuss support for the most vulnerable refugees.

One of the main problems is the issuance of a residence permit. Many foreigners come and whole families are faced with difficulties in finding rental housing. Appearance of a special block of flats for displaced workers would be a great way to support them. This can be a building from the ground up, and overhaul of the building, which is not used.

In the meantime, a significant help in solving the housing problem has to temporary refugee settlements. It is the only such facility in the country. Since opening in 2002 in paragraph lived about 400 people. Today found refuge here 19 aliens applying for refugee status or for further protection, while only 50 such applications were submitted. Basically it the citizens of Afghanistan, and the rest - individual representatives of Georgia, Congo, Palestine and other countries. However, people who have applied for refugee status, may be in the paragraph only at the time of verification of their identity - from 3 months to a year.

However, it turns out, and other support aimed at the integration of foreign nationals from refugee in Belarusian society. For example, a year ago Vitebsk region twice in the competitions held by UNHCR on the best social projects, and won grants. With their help, equipment was purchased to create two jobs of "Vitebskhlebprom" and eight - JSC "Red October".

Jean-Yves Bouchard visited both plants and talked with foreign workers and refugees who applies for this status. On "Vitebskhlebprom" now works one Syrian, the footwear company - 6 natives of the Congo, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Bangladesh and Sierra Leone. Some of them have mastered the new operations, enhanced their skills.

UNHCR representative said the real results of the interaction of international organizations and governments, in particular the Committee on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the regional executive committee, refugee counseling services, the regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society. With this in mind, as well as the use of the funding received by appointment signed an agreement to transfer ownership of assets to UNHCR. As a result, the equipment that is used by a year the Committee on Labor, Employment and Social Protection, passed in communal ownership. A similar document was signed and a citizen of Afghanistan, who organized the Vitebsk area farm. Previously by a grant UNHCR for him was purchased tractor which now became the property of the farmer.

BelTA