UN
Inter-Agency Humanitarian Situation Report
KOSOVO
Population Movements
1. The most recent displacement is along Kosovo's Southeastern region bordering the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia an area previously unaffected by violence. To date UNHCR
reports that more than 5,000 people have fled six villages in this area. On 2 March UNHCR
brought plastic sheeting, sleeping bags, blankets, hygienic kits and canned food to 250
displaced staying in a school in Kacanik town. The displaced had previously been evacuated
by UNHCR after spending two days under plastic sheeting in the mountains.
2. On 3 March UNHCR saw about 200 IDPs living rough on a mountainside at Kodra Ljacit.
They had been there five days, fearing fighting between security forces and the Kosovo
Liberation Army. UNHCR brought food for the these IDPs ( mostly women, children and
elderly ) who on 26 February fled from their homes at nearby Pustenik, a village of about
600.
3. Elsewhere, UNHCR staff said on 3 March that they continued to hear shelling and gunfire
overnight in the Vucitrn region. More than 11,000 people left their homes there after
fighting broke out two weeks ago. Some 1,500 residents of Prcevo near Klina fled their
homes at 03:00h 2 March when troops conducted military exercises there, but returned to
their houses six hours later after troops withdrew. Most of the 4,000 residents of
Studencane, near Suva Reka, returned home in this period.
4. UNHCR currently estimates that there are at least 211,000 displaced within Kosovo. Some
63,000 people have been forced to leave their homes during the past two and a half months
due to clashes between Government security forces and the KLA, kidnappings, street
violence and, more recently, military exercises by the Yugoslav army. In places where
there is no violence, and especially where KVM has a continuing presence, returns have
continued.
Protection
5. On 3 March UNHCR discussed with local authorities in Pristina and Kacanik the
possibility of facilitating the issuance of travel papers for people who wished to go to
Macedonia. The authorities appear willing to help within the law, and have provided a
focal point for UNHCR to work with. However, as applicants must present citizenship, birth
and residence certificates, the process inevitably will be delayed because most of those
who want to leave have evacuated villages engulfed in fighting. UNHCR also urged the KLA
to allow villagers to secure documentation.
Relief Distribution
6. During the period under review UNHCR continued to lead interagency convoys delivering
food and non-food items to the municipalities of Djakovica, Srbica, Urosevac, Kosovska
Mitrovica, Glogovac, Lipljan, Pec, Prizren, Klina, Orahovac, Suva Reka and Kacanik.
Agencies supplying relief items include UNHCR, WFP, Mercy Corps International, Mother
Teresa Society, Doctors of the World, Children's Aid Direct, Caritas and Catholic Relief
Services.
Education
7. According to UNICEF, distribution of firewood for schools started last week in the
municipality of Glogovac. In 15 schools 395 cubic metres of firewood were distributed.
Some 900 cubic metres of wood has been distributed to Albanian-run and State schools in
the municipality of Klina and in the Malisevo area.
8. 17,000 school kits have been distributed thus far. Distribution of the remaining 24,500
school kits ( 17,000 provided by UNHCR , 7,500 provided by UNICEF) continues for children
in the municipalities of Glogovac, Suva Reka and Orahovac. UNICEF has coordinated the
distribution of school kits in other municipalities through UNHCR-led convoys.
Food Aid Programme related to the Kosovo Crisis
9. Stocks for full WFP distributions in Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania are available and a
further 7,500 MT of mixed WFP, CRS and MCI commodities are awaiting clearance in the
Montenegrin port of Bar which acts as the main supply point for food aid programmes in the
region. On 27 February two new vessels containing wheat flour, oil and pulses for WFP, CRS
and MCI arrived in Bar. There are now sufficient quantities of food in the region to meet
the needs of people affected by the Kosovo crisis in FRY for a period of approximately
four months.
10. Food dispatches resumed from Bar to Kosovo on 25 February, following the temporary
one-week suspension due to insecurity. Nonetheless, distributions in Kosovo were not
significantly disrupted with convoys leaving Pristina daily. A loan of oil from CRS
enabled WFP to continue distributions with a full food basket. February was the first
month that WFP included sugar in the monthly food basket in Kosovo. WFP estimates that
current stocks of sugar in Pristina will last for at least three months.
11. WFP continues to mill wheat grain in Kosovo and Montenegro thereby supporting local
industry. In Kosovo, WFP has signed agreements with an additional three mills in Lipljan
and Vucitrn for the milling of 3,500 MT of wheat grain currently awaiting clearance in
Bar.
12. In Montenegro food aid distributions to the caseload of 32,100 have been completed for
the month of February. February was the first month that distributions were made to host
families and the Montenegrin Red Cross identified 4,389 host families for whom MCI and CRS
provided food aid.
MONTENEGRO
13. UNICEF has identified a total of 14 schools with an estimated 1,700 displaced students
in Plav, Gusinje, Rozaje, Tuzi and Ulcinj. Classes have begun in nearly all locations.
Agencies involved will include Danish Refugee Council for provision of desks and chairs,
CRS for provision of firewood, CARE for coal and heating fuel, heating stoves by UNHCR,
rehabilitation of premises by Swiss Disaster Relief and UNHCR, transportation of students
by Danish Refugee Council and textbooks and school supplies by UNICEF.
14. WHO and the Institute of Public Health report that there are no major health problems
among the displaced population in Montenegro although it is becoming apparent that there
are strains being placed on the health system. The availability of drugs is inadequate to
provide sufficient coverage. The outbreak of cases of hepatitis A are part of a regular
cyclical occurrence and affect both the displaced and local population. No other serious
illnesses have been identified among the displaced population.
FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
15. Some 1,500 asylum seekers from Kosovo entered the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia during the period under review, fleeing fighting between Serbian security forces
and the KLA in border villages in the municipality of Kacanik. The new influx were
registered by the Macedonian Red Cross (MRC) assisted by UNHCR, the International
Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and ICRC. Most of those entering the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia were met by friends and relatives but some of the refugees were
accommodated in villages near the border and provided with emergency assistance in the
form of wheat flour, beans, oil, blankets and soap.
16. The United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) ceased its monitoring
activities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 1 March 1999 after a draft
resolution to extend its mandate by six months was vetoed by China, a permanent member of
the UN Security Council. China considered that UNPREDEP had achieved its original
objective of securing stability in the country and therefore did not require its mandate
to be extended. China did not accept the arguments linking UNPREDEP to the situation in
Kosovo which it considered to be an internal issue for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Discussions are ongoing to determine whether other agencies might be able to fulfil
elements of UNPREDEP's mandate.
ALBANIA
Contingency Planning
17. UNHCR is collaborating with the Government to develop contingency plans in the event
of a further influx of refugees from Kosovo into Albania. A preliminary planning refugee
caseload of some 50,000 is being used and efforts are underway to identify sites to
accommodate a possible new influx in Western Albania.
Humanitarian Assistance
18. During the last week of February IFRC and UNHCR, through its implementing partner
Humanitarian Cargo Carriers, distributed shoes, jackets, underwear and trousers to some
500 Kosovo refugees still living in Tropoje district. This was a significant achievement
as humanitarian operations have been constrained in recent months in Northern Albania due
to insecurity. The distribution took place without incident. The only other humanitarian
intervention to have taken place in Tropoje in recent months was a food distribution which
took place one month ago.
19. Efforts are underway to address drug shortages in refugee centres in Velipoje and
Shengjin in North-west Albania. Food agencies are also trying to standardise the food
basket to ensure equitable distribution throughout the country. The relief community is
also working jointly to provide community and social services to the most vulnerable,
regardless of whether they are refugees or members of the local population.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
20. According to UNHCR approximately 10,000 refugees from Kosovo have arrived in Bosnia
and Herzegovina since January 1998. Some 8,500 are living in private accommodation, mainly
in Sarajevo canton, and 1,500 are living in transit or collective centres.
21. It is planned that refugees currently living in collective accommodation will
ultimately be accommodated in four different centres ( 1 in Srednje, 3 in Bosanski
Petrovac ) with a total capacity of some 2,000 persons. An additional centre with a
capacity of some 1,000 persons is expected to be completed by June 1999 as a contingency
measure in the event of a small-scale influx of refugees from Kosovo. If a large number of
Kosovo refugees arrive in Bosnia and Hercegovina tented accommodation will be used.
22. The Coca Cola factory in Hadzici on the outskirts of Sarajevo has now been closed
following the transfer of the 330 Kosovo refugees living in the factory to the new refugee
reception centre in Bosanski Petrovac and the nearby Rakovica centre. The transfer was
organised by UNHCR with security being provided by the NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR) and
the United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF). The closure of the camp is a
welcome development as the refugees had been living in poor conditions for a period of
nearly six months. The closure of the "Coca Cola camp" marks the end of UNHCR's
direct operational involvement in the management of refugee centres in Bosnia and
Herzegovina which are now all entirely managed by Government personnel with support and
advice from UNHCR and NGOs.
23. Refugees from Kosovo living in collective accommodation continue to benefit from
humanitarian assistance as food and non-food items are provided by relief agencies to
those in need. Primary health care is also available to those living in transit centres.
However, successful integration of Kosovo Albanian children into the Bosnian school system
remains a challenge. |
