Filipovic: The Red Cross in Leposavic is getting harder and harder to function, they want to ban us from traveling and working

The Red Cross workers in Leposavic face numerous problems, they live and work in fear that they will be denied the right to cross the Jarinje administrative crossing, says the director of this organization, Radojica Filipovic, and adds that their work is also disrupted by the newly founded non-governmental organization, as well as the difficulty in delivering humanitarian aid.

He sees the only hope for preserving humanity in the child volunteers of the Red Cross and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

"Today, the Red Cross is working harder, despite the improving conditions, because there are many non-governmental organizations that cause the Red Cross to lose confidence. International humanitarian organizations implement part of our programs in a different way. In fact, they steal the project from us and present it as their own, but we through our volunteers, we protect the reputation of the Red Cross. Child volunteers go through complete training and are introduced to all areas of activity of the Red Cross, so they are the ones who are our future, through which the Red Cross will work and live," said Filipovic for Kosovo online.

Filipovic points out that in the full 37 years that he has been working, he has never seen such difficult circumstances and fear in which an international humanitarian organization, such as the Red Cross in Leposavic, finds itself today.

"I am afraid that one day they will ban the passage with our symbol, the sign of the Red Cross. Now on June 3, we have a competition in providing first aid. Our children should travel to Northern Mitrovica, where children from all over come, from the enclaves of Kosovo and all organization. They don't allow us, we can't even get the equipment. The problem is also when we qualify for the Republic competition, so far we have passed without any problems. They checked our equipment, backpacks and other things along with all the necessary documentation when crossing to Jarinje, but we are worried about the future, how it will all work. The police recently took away humanitarian aid in Strpce. The Red Cross was distributing aid to the citizens, they took it away. We have not had any problems in Leposavic so far, but we are afraid," remarked Filipovic.

He notes that the only funds they receive are from the Republic of Serbia, but adds that they are insufficient for the needs of the population.

"As far as material costs are concerned, we are not supported, we receive some funds from the Serbian Red Cross. Those funds are insufficient, because we have many activities, and we are a little grateful to the volunteer children," said Filipovic.

Red Cross workers receive money based on projects, and Filipovic revealed when the difficulties in the work of this humanitarian organization began.

"We receive salaries on the basis of the project that we submit to the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. Previously, like all other beneficiaries, we were financed by the municipality, but the Tadic government at the time tried to shut down the Red Cross in Kosovo. We do not know the reason, but the Red Cross of Serbia is not that allowed. At that time, it was planned to form a humanitarian department under the municipality, without it being called the Red Cross. Whether it was higher politics or a misunderstanding of the people who were there then, I don't know. Since then, the Office has taken over us for Kosovo and Metohija, to be financed through these projects. We have seven employed workers whose salaries are financed based on the project and the activities we carry out," emphasized Filipovic.

Despite the fact that they have moved to new premises, the director points out that since the establishment of the Red Cross in Leposavic, which has been working and functioning for 63 years, he does not remember a more difficult situation.

"A few years ago, we moved into new premises and thus got an adequate space for work, and until then we only had two offices. Now we have a larger warehouse space, better access for unloading and loading, but unfortunately there is little help that we can give provide. What we receive is from our Republic of Serbia through the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and the Red Cross of Serbia. We try to somehow help as much as we can. We organize and carry out some of the collection actions ourselves, but as far as money is concerned it is difficult to help. We have had a large number of actions to help sick children who need treatment abroad or those treatments and medicines are expensive in our country. We have carried out a large number of such actions that we continue to carry out, as well as the collection of clothes," said Filipovic.