Montenegro was the last of the Western Balkans countries to record cases of COVID-19. Once the number of infected people started appearing in mid-March, the most vulnerable communities were in danger of not having the most essential means to properly respond to the confinement measures. Simultaneously, several Roma NGOs activated some of the available resources in order to assist those in immediate need.

On 18 March, the ROMACTED support organisation in Montenegro, NGO Mladi Romi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 23 Roma and Egyptian local non-governmental organisations in order to launch the RESPECT campaign, the aim of which was to spread information on preventive measures and distribute emergency kits for the most vulnerable Roma families in Montenegro.

The ROMACTED Programme supported the initiative and contributed towards the purchase of 400 kits, each containing 17kg of food, 7kg of hygiene products and 25kg of flour.

The purchase and distribution were co-ordinated by Mladi Romi in four of the ROMACTED beneficiary municipalities. The action was supported by the ROMACTED facilitators, CAG members and volunteers from the Roma community. The local Red Cross, appointed by the Montenegrin National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases, provided the necessary support during the distribution of packages in all the municipalities.

In Ulcinj municipality, 110 emergency kits were distributed in eight neighbourhoods (Bijela gora, Pinješ, Totoše, Kolomza, Kodre, Štoj, Darza and MUP barake). In Bar, the neighbourhoods Naselje pod Volujicom, Sokolana, Bijelise, Stari Bar, Susanj, Sutomore, Lamela and Makedonsko received 100 packages. In Tivat, 160 kits were distributed in 7 Jul, Lovanja and Gradiošnica settlements. In Niksic, 30 packages were distributed to Roma residents of Budo Tomović and the neighbourhood around the hospital.

While social distancing remains one of the unavoidable prevention measures, it needs to be in line with solidarity actions for the most vulnerable citizens and their needs. In order to assist these communities, the ROMACTED Programme aims to continue supporting the Roma and Egyptian communities throughout the pandemic crisis. Furthermore, the ROMACTED support team plans to continue strengthening the synergies and communication with all stakeholders in the field, in order to ensure that the necessary support continues to be provided to the Roma community in Montenegro at this difficult time.