Citizens of North Mitrovica: The dinar ban decision has made existence more difficult

For the citizens of North Mitrovica, the Central Bank's regulation banning the dinar from February 1 has changed the way they functioned before, as they are now forced to travel to central Serbia for their payments. This, as they state for Kosovo Online, has made their existence more difficult and brought nervousness and panic into their lives.

Danijela Tomasevic says that the ban on the dinar has further complicated the basic functioning of citizens, recalling previous bans on goods and medicines.

"The ban on the dinar has further complicated the situation. People are forced to go to Raska or the nearest cities in central Serbia to withdraw even a small amount of money. I'm talking about people receiving social benefits, parental support, and others. They are forced to go for money and, additionally, pay for travel. Instructions are to go to central Serbia... We don't even have Serbian products here, people cannot withdraw money in full. It is additionally difficult because there are no medicines here, and we see that some pharmacies have closed down," Tomasevic says.

A resident of North Mitrovica says that nothing has changed because the situation is still as difficult as it was before.

"Whether it's a kilometer closer to Rudnica-Raska, but still in Raska, you can buy something. You can't bring newspapers, they'll confiscate them, and they'll take your milk. Lent lasts until Easter, so we'll endure. There are no ATMs here either because they're not working, regarding the dinar," he says.

An elderly citizen says that after two months since the ban on the dinar, there is increasing panic and nervousness.

"We are slowly managing day by day, when there's some, we take it, when there's none – there's none. When I have dinars, I buy, and when there's none... there's nothing you can do," he says.

Radomirka Jovanovic notes that a lot has changed in two months.

"Even this small pension that I earned, I have nowhere to withdraw it. I have to go four times to withdraw it. I don't know what the situation is at the ATMs, but when you enter the bank, you wait, and they don't give it to you at once, but you have to go four times for one pension, that is how it is. A lot has changed, and nothing is good for us old folks. What can we do... As long as we can, we can," Jovanovic says.