[ALBSA-Info] Orthodox Church of Albania Rebuilds Lives

[albboschurch at juno.com]

PRESS RELEASE
-------------

ORTHODOX CHURCH IN ALBANIA PROVIDES $1,438,992 (US) FOR KOSOVO REFUGEES
AND
ALBANIAN COMMUNITIES IN ALBANIA DURING 2000 & 2001

The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, with the continuous concern
of
His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania,
continues responding to the plight of the Kosovo refugees and host
Albanian
communities in Albania.  In response to these suffering people, the
Orthodox
Autocephalous Church of Albania's social, development and relief
office--Diaconia Agapes (DA)--is successfully implementing a $1,438,992
(US)
Emergency Program during the period January 1, 2000 - July 2001. 

Miss Penny Panayiota Deligiannis of the United States of America serves
as
the Director of the Diaconia Agapes Emergency Program in Albania.  An
established 25-person Albanian national team has been implementing the
large
scale program throughout Albania.  Agencies and churches within the
worldwide Action by Churches Together (ACT) Network are providing strong
financial support in recognition of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of
Albania's mature and meaningful outreach. 

To date, under Deligiannis' committed leadership, the Orthodox Church's
Diaconia Agapes has implemented $10,510,055 (US) during its five
respective
emergency programs in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 benefiting more
than
50,000 lives in Albania and Kosovo.  Simultaneously under Deligiannis,
Diaconia Agapes also implemented more than $2,971,140 (US) through its
eleven long-term social and development programs throughout the Republic
of
Albania focusing on
education, health, youth and agriculture.

Currently, the United Nations High Commisioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
continues to rely on the Orthodox Church's Diaconia Agapes to maintain
and
manage the only winterised and fully operational refugee Collective
Center
in Albania located in Tirana's central park.  The camp is comprised of 97
pre-fabricated units allowing a potential capacity of 414 persons.  

Other non-governmental organizations in Albania closed their refugee
camps
last year due to the lack of funds.  UNHCR has asked Diaconia Agapes'
assistance in hosting Kosovo refugees at its Collective Center until June
30, 2001. 

At its Collective Center in Tirana, the Orthodox Church's Diaconia Agapes
continues to coordinate seven common service programs for Kosovo refugees
focussing on camp management, education, food distribution, health
(medical
and dental treatments), non-food distribution of hygiene supplies and new
winter clothing sets as well as water and sanitation assistance. 

As winter unfolded during 2000, Diaconia Agapes directly distributed
5,984
new winter clothing sets to 5,984 Kosovo refugee children, women and men
in
Durres, Fier, Shkodra and Tirana (February 22 - April 2000).  Each person
received a parcel which consisted of a warm winter jacket, a pair of
shoes,
T-shirt, sweater, a pair of trousers, two pairs of underwear and two
pairs
of thermal socks.  Diaconia Agapes worked with one local supplier in
Albania
and one international supplier from Germany to procure the clothing sets.

During the Kosovo Crisis, the Albanian society offered extended
assistance
to the refugees at the expense of the local population.  This is true to
the
extreme with regard to public buildings such as schools and kindergartens
which experienced extreme wear and tear.  Albanian students even shared
their bare minimum of school materials in order to allow the Kosovo
children
to participate in education.  Diaconia Agapes strongly believes that it
is a
question of fairness and the responsibility of the international
community
to at least compensate the students for the losses they are sacrificing
now.

In response to direct pleas by national and local Albanian government
officials as well as the Albanian Ministry of Education, Diaconia Agapes
fully rehabilitated 2 Schools and 2 Kindergartens in Luz i Vogel and
Peqinaj
(February - July 2000) which restarted education benefiting 1,000
Albanian
children and their teachers.  During 1999, Diaconia Agapes worked closely
with these communities to assist Kosovo refugees.  These efforts have
allowed 1,000 children access to a functioning educational system.  In
addition, Diaconia Agapes provided 45 new classroom kits, 475 new school
tables and 1,000 new school chairs. 

>From July 2000 - March 2001, Diaconia Agapes also fully rehabilitated 2
Schools, 2 Kindergartens and 2 Water Wells in Elbasan, Kombinat, Laprake,
Ndroq and Tirana which restarted education benefiting 1,452 Albanian
children and their teachers.  These efforts have allowed 1,452 children
access to a functioning educational system.  In addition, Diaconia Agapes
provided 62 new classroom kits, 675 new school tables and 1,452 new
school
chairs as well as 172 cots and mattresses.  

In accordance with the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania's policy
for
social, development and relief work, all aid was given to people
regardless
of their race, religion or political attitude.

THE PRESS OFFICE OF THE ORTHODOX AUTOCEPHALOUS CHURCH OF ALBANIA
July 4, 2001