Citizens of North Mitrovica 11 months without the dinar: It's too difficult, we are struggling

The Central Bank of Kosovo's regulation banning the use of dinars has made daily life more difficult for the citizens of North Mitrovica. Nearly a year after the decision took effect, Serbs are still finding ways to manage, primarily by traveling to Raska to withdraw money. However, this comes with additional expenses, and winter travel poses a significant challenge, especially for pensioners.

"People adapt to whatever comes their way, in every situation. They have become resilient. They endure and get used to everything. For me, it has had little to no effect, maybe because I'm resourceful, or as the saying goes, 'find a way,'" an elderly resident of North Mitrovica admits.

He adds that he values the dinar, not because of its worth, but because "it is ours," which, he says, is the whole point.

"What hurts us older folks the most is having to travel just to get a small amount of dinars. And it gets spent there too. That is the social aspect. There is also the health aspect. It is not easy for us to travel in winter," he points out.

A fellow resident who cannot travel relies on someone else to bring her pension from Raska.

"I don’t travel, I have someone who brings it to me. This decision has affected me as well as everyone else," she notes.

Traveling to and from Raska, according to one pensioner, is both a health and financial burden.

"It is tough, rushing to Raska back and forth. It has made life harder. Our legs hurt. By the time I get there, half my pension is gone," he says with frustration.

In such difficult circumstances, another local admits she must find ways to manage.

"I’m managing like everyone else. I go to Raaka. It is hard. It is not good, we have to figure it out," she emphasizes.

Describing their trips to withdraw money, the residents of Mitrovica sum it up briefly as "a struggle."

"It is hard, very hard. We are constantly changing something, traveling to Raska, struggling... Part of the pension goes toward transportation there, and we buy something while we are at it. It is quite difficult," a pensioner from North Mitrovica concluded.