Mitrovic: CBK's decision affects the poorest; we expect help from the International Committee

The decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo to abolish the dinar will impact the poorest population, Jovica Mitrovic, the secretary of the Red Cross Kosovo Polje, said for Kosovo Online and added that assistance for normal operations in the field would be requested from the International Committee.

Mitrovic emphasizes that people find it increasingly difficult to adapt to decisions coming from Pristina.

"Honestly, it is very difficult to contemplate and mentally adjust to the situations that reach all of us living in Kosovo and Metohija. If you consider the situation, we have been living in uncertainty for 24 years in a very challenging environment to which one somewhat adapts. Considering that the Red Cross has the most contact points with beneficiaries and the people, every organization in its environment, this decision has shaken all citizens, including me personally as a human being and as the leader of this organization, the Red Cross Kosovo Polje. We are simply stunned. As usual, this measure will affect the people who are socially vulnerable and the poorest the most," Mitrovic said.

He pointed out that younger people might adapt, expressing hope that Serbia would find ways to help citizens. However, he questions what will happen to the Red Cross beneficiaries.

"The Red Cross Kosovo Polje has around 220 families who are beneficiaries of our humanitarian aid. We were supposed to conduct a regular distribution in December to our beneficiaries here in Kosovo and Metohija. Due to some political decisions of the Kosovo authorities, we were advised not to carry out distribution for the time being until we have a discussion with the Committee. These days, Committee delegates are visiting our organizations in the northern part; I expect them to visit our organizations south of the Ibar these days because we are one family, the Committee is the top of the Red Cross, and we will seek the freedom to do our job and fulfill our purpose, to exclusively engage in humanitarian work while political bodies and politicians do their job," Mitrovic said.

It is sad, he emphasizes, that political decisions affect social cases.

"How will an older person living in Ugljare or Bresje, or anywhere else, who is alone and over 60, 70, or 80 years old, go and buy medicine when they need it? There's a situation where people have gotten used to the lack of medicine and the lack of quality food from Serbia, and now the dinar is also threatened. As a younger person, I wonder where this is going," Mitrovic said.

According to him, the decision to abolish the dinar is a disgrace for the international community.

"This is a great disgrace for the world community and Europe, unable to provide something elemental to a person. What does a person need, health and a little money, without which there is no life? I don't know how all of this will function, and we are in great uncertainty, awaiting the outcome from our Committee. After all, the International Committee is the pinnacle of our organizations, and we will ask the Committee for help to enable us to function normally in the field as we have for these 24 years," Mitrovic concluded.