All numbers presented here are based on estimates by the Municipal Government

General Information

The Municipality of Skënderaj/Srbica is located to the west of Prishtinë/Priština and to the south of Zubin Potok. It was in this Municipality that the Kosovo Liberation Army was founded. Today the vast majority of the population is Albanian with small communities of Serbs, Ashkali and Bosniaks also residing in the Municipality. There is regular interaction between communities. According to the Municipal Community Office, the most important issues facing the municipality are high rates of unemployment, poor infrastructure and a lack of economic development.

Important Contact Details

Website: http://kk.rks-gov.net/skenderaj/
Telephone: 028/582-124

Demographics

Since 1999 many people have moved away from the municipality. Today, some community members live in the town of Skënderaj/Srbica. Serb community members live in mainly the villages of Banja/Bajë and Grlo/Syriganë.

Accurate population statistics are not available for Kosovo. The numbers presented here are approximate estimates by the municipal authorities, cross checked with OSCE Municipal and Community Profiles. For more information on Statistics in Kosovo click here

* The 1991 census results are considered unreliable due to a boycott by the Albanian population

Political Representation

The Mayor of Skënderaj/Srbica, Sami Lushtaku, represents the PDK. His party has the absolute majority in the Municipal Assembly and is therefore the only ruling party in the municipality. The communities are represented in the Municipal Assembly Communities Committee. Skënderaj/Srbica also has a Municipal Community Office.

Safety and Freedom of Movement

The Municipality has not reported any incident of inter-ethnic nature having occurred in its territory. The security is provided by the 106 officers of the Kosovo Police (KP) serving in the Municipality and the KFOR. The KP is monitored, mentored and advised by three EULEX police officers. In Suvo Grlo/Syriganë, the KP has since 2006 a local police station where 11 Albanian officers work. Danish and French KFOR troops cover the Municipality and, among other things, conduct mobile patrols in the Kosovo Serb villages of Suvo Grlo/Syriganë and Banja/Bajë. French KFOR maintains a check point near Devi? Monastery.

Education

According to the Municipal Directorate of Education, 23 schools offer classes in Albanian language in the Municipality - 21 primary schools and two secondary schools. One kindergarten in Banja/Bajë, two primary schools in Banja/Bajë and Suvo Grlo/Syriganë and one secondary school in Suvo Grlo/Syriganë provide education in Serbian language. Approximately 20 students attend Suvo Grlo/Syriganë secondary school. Members of the Ashkali community attend Albanian language classes.

*the figures for Serbian community refer to the parallel educational institutions
** 11438 pupils attend primary schools, 3038 secondary, 821 preschool and 25 classes for children with special needs.

Returns

* Numbers have not been provided in 2010.

* Numbers have not been provided in 2010.

The Municipality of Skenderaj/Srbica has made efforts in promoting the return process, notably with activities such as go-and-see visits organized in Runik/Rudnik. However, to date no return from members of non-majority communities occurred. Generally, the main problem hampering the return process is the lack of economic opportunities.

Economics

The Municipality of Skenderaj/Srbica is comparatively poor, suffering from a lack of investment in infrastructure dating from Yugoslav times. Agriculture remains the cornerstone of the municipal economy, but arable land has to date not been exploited to its fullest extent. Currently, apart from remittances, sources of income include small enterprises, such as family-run shops and restaurants. Two privatized factories, producing brick and flour, employ a few hundred people. The other major source of employment is the municipal civil service.

* No information was provided in 2010.

*official institutions

Access to Health Care and other Public Services (police/administration/public companies/etc.)

Health Care
According to the Director of Health, the centre of family medicine in Skenderaj/Srbica town is the main medical establishment that the local population uses. It is currently staffed by 26 doctors, 117 nurses, and other support staff. It provides first aid and general medical services. Urgent and difficult cases are often referred to hospitals in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica or Prishtinë/Priština. Besides the centre for family medicine, a network of five family medicine centers and health care units covers all villages in the Municipality. The two Serb majority villages, Banja/Bajë and Grlo/Syriganë, both possess an small health care unit provided by the parallel system. Residents from these villages travel to the hospital in North Mitrovicë/Mitrovica for more serious medical issue.

Other Public Institutions
All official documents are published in the official languages of Kosovo, and communities have not reported any problems in communicating with public institutions.