09 April 1999

FACT SHEET: KOSOVO HUMANITARIAN SITUATION UPDATE

    Based on information from U.S. Government sources

 The following Fact Sheet was released April 9.

 (begin Fact Sheet)

 REFUGEES TRICKLE ACROSS BORDER

 Despite closed borders, an estimated 1,200 Kosovars near the "no man's land" crossed into Macedonia yesterday. Another 1,000 IDPs trekked over 13 hours along a mountain pass to Montenegro. Only small numbers were reported to have crossed into Albania. Eyewitnesses report long lines of vehicles abandoned near the border areas. There are unconfirmed reports that persons left behind the border are returning to their homes in Pristina. UNHCR has also retracted earlier reports of "missing" refugees from the "no man's land." UNHCR reps said that earlier estimates were just that, estimates, and ones made under difficult circumstances.

 ACCESS DENIED TO RELIEF SUPPLIES IN SERBIA

 UNHCR is still trying to access stockpiled relief supplies in Belgrade. The effort started last week and has been delayed by bureaucratic roadblocks. UNHCR noted that supplies in Montenegro are growing short and it is looking closely at establishing a supply line through Croatia. Some NGOs have already brought supplies in through the airport at Dubrovnik. UNHCR currently has one expatriate staff remaining in Belgrade who will be meeting with authorities today to discuss the reported 50,000 IDPs in the Serbian heartland. The UNHCR Belgrade office has reported attempts by FRY authorities to cajole ICRC and UNHCR to return to work in Kosovo. UNHCR has set minimum conditions before it will return, including a withdrawal of Serb forces. An assessment mission, however, may be accepted if conditions improve.

 AIR SHIPMENTS DEPART FROM U.S.

 Chartered jets carrying about 150 MT of U.S. food for refugees should be arriving in the region by April 9. One jet left New York's JFK Airport on Thursday afternoon, April 8, while a second 747 was due to depart around midnight. Another shipment of humanitarian aid is scheduled for Saturday, April 10. In other developments, U.S. Marines have begun preparations to construct a camp for up to 10,000 persons near Korca.

 (end Fact Sheet)