Due to the CBK regulation, residents of Serbian areas were unable to collect social assistance today, citizens blame Kurti

Today, Serbia transferred financial aid to the accounts of social assistance and child benefit recipients, however, residents of Serbian areas in central Kosovo cannot withdraw even the limited amounts that they could in the north due to the delayed delivery of dinars to Gracanica.

Long lines formed in North Mitrovica outside post offices and ATMs, but according to citizens, only up to 10,000 dinars can be withdrawn today.

"The payout is limited to 10,000 dinars. I feel very threatened. I've been here for 26 years and don't plan to leave. The decisions of the Pristina authorities are absurd and aim for the quiet eviction of Serbs. I hope we resist and stay," a young man from North Mitrovica said.

These measures mostly target the most vulnerable, the elderly, and recipients of social assistance, according to citizens of North Mitrovica.

"The situation now forces not only college-bound youth but also high school students to leave. We hope that after Vucic's address to the UN Security Council and his talks with the Quint, something will be done to protect us so that people can live normally," citizens said.

Long queues also formed in Leposavic, but according to citizens, the maximum amount they could withdraw was also up to 10,000 dinars.

"The people are in a difficult situation. Today, the limit is only 10,000 dinars, which will be very little for citizens. They cannot plan their lives or pay bills, it is especially difficult for elderly fellow citizens," a resident of Leposavic said.

According to those who came to collect money, the situation is very difficult.

"This 10,000 is just enough to get here and return home. That, and two boxes of cigarettes. It is quite hard, we have to manage as we have been, going to Serbia to withdraw money," disgruntled citizens say.

The situation in central Kosovo is even more dramatic

Social assistance recipients in Gracanica, who tried to withdraw money, are dissatisfied with the current situation. They stress that they need the money to support their families and they blame the policy of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti for the decision to ban the dinar.

As they say, due to the decision, they are forced to travel to Kursumlija or Raska to withdraw their social assistance and other payments.

"There's no money, who knows if there will be any, we expected there to be. I have four children, what will I do now? I have to go to central Serbia with them. That's how Kurti decided. The situation is a catastrophe," a resident of Gracanica said.

"I don't believe there will be money, we all have to go to Serbia. This is my only income. Kurti has done it all. There's no money, nothing. How will I support my children?" a resident of central Kosovo said.

"You work, and you can't withdraw your salary, it's chaos," a resident of Gracanica emphasized.

Her fellow citizen added that the people, restricted in everything, suffered the most.

"When I have major obligations, I'll have to go to Raska. This situation is due to politics. The people suffer, of course, who else? Have you seen any politician suffering because of their decisions? The people pay and suffer. It's all from our pockets, nerves, and health. I have three children. It's too hard, painful, traveling, paying for the trip. We can't make any payments, we are restricted in everything," she added.

According to information from the post office in Gracanica, money hasn't been delivered for a long time.

According to the latest information, there are 31,586 social assistance recipients in Kosovo, the most vulnerable population groups receiving social benefits from the Republic of Serbia, child benefits, veteran aid, etc.

As a reminder, at Jarinje, a van with dinars intended for salary payments, pensions, social benefits, and other payments to Serbs was stopped twice (on February 7 and 14), despite the official postponement of the implementation of the CBK decision to ban transactions in dinars.

The last time, Albanian officials at the Jarinje crossing threatened to arrest the officials who were in the vehicles of NBS and the Henderson company.