The Aliu family is expected to soon have a new home in Cerajë, in the municipality of Leposaviq. This comes 25 years after their house was burned down by Serbs during the Kosovo war. The Ministry of Local Government Administration has announced that 200 new houses will soon be built in northern municipalities following an agreement made with the “Balkan Orphans” association.
Work has already begun on the road leading to the village of Cerajë in Leposaviq, which will soon be frequently used by residents of the area. Additionally, construction equipment will be used shortly to demolish a house that has been in a state of disrepair for many years.
Ahmet Aliu, from this northern village of Kosovo, says that besides the roads that are being opened and repaired, the government has enabled the reconstruction of his house, which was burned down by Serbs two decades ago.
“For 25 years, these houses have been in this condition, burned down during the war, and today the opportunity has finally come. This house will be demolished and a new one will be built, bringing one family back, and many other families here in Cerajë village and in the surrounding villages. We are very grateful for this initiative—they are opening the roads little by little, and they are building us new houses. We are very pleased with this work,” he said.
Aliu also stated that interest in repatriation to the northern municipalities has increased, as new houses are being rebuilt.
“There is a lot of interest. Many people are eager to return and build houses, but now it depends on how much support the government can provide because there’s a significant demand. There are beneficiaries, but still many requests for people to return, to rebuild and revive their lives. People are tired of living in the cities—there used to be nothing here, but now people are slowly starting to come back,” Aliu said.
In April of this year, the Kosovo government allocated four million euros at the request of the Ministry of Local Government Administration to rebuild new houses in the municipalities of northern Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zubin Potok, and Zveçan, subsidizing them 100%.
On August 12, 2024, the Ministry of Local Government Administration, following an agreement with the president of the “Balkan Orphans” association, Halil Kastrati, agreed to rebuild 200 new houses, with 100 being funded by the ministry and 100 by the association.
