Source: http://www.info.usaid.gov/hum_response/ofda/kosofs54.html
Accessed 09 June 1999
 |
Kosovo Crisis
Fact Sheet #54
May 19, 1999 |
 |
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
|
Regional: Refugees and
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Kosovo
| Country |
Total Refugees |
Entries in last 24 hrs |
Departures in last 24 hrs |
| Albania |
433,300 |
300 (May 16-17 from Monte.) |
None |
| Macedonia |
226,800 |
1,400 |
1,128 |
| Montenegro |
64,000 |
1,000 (May 14-17) |
300 (May 16-17 to Albania) |
*All numbers are estimates from UNHCR Headquarters.
Albania
UNHCR headquarters estimates that there are 433,000 refugees in Albania. UNHCR reported
on one refugee arrival from Kosovo on May 18. Approximately 300 refugees entered Albania
from Montenegro on May 16 and 17.
The Government of Albania (GOA), Emergency Management Group (EMG) estimates that a total
of 450,283 refugees are in Albania, which differs from the official UNHCR refugee
estimates. The EMG reports that 66,670 refugees are in tent camps, 86,300 are in
collective centers, and 291,729 are with host families.
The EMG estimates that 130,957 refugees are located in Albania's northern Districts. The
EMG reports that in Kukes Prefecture 33,387 refugees are in tent camps, 2,054 are in
collective centers, and 95,516 are staying with host families.
On May 18, a total of 1,409 refugees were transferred from Kukes Prefecture to central
and southern Albania.
607 refugees entered Camp Hope on May 18. As of 11:00 a.m. local time on May 18, a total
of 2,500 refugees were registered at Camp Hope. The USAID Disaster Assistance Response
Team (DART) reports that Camp Hope is nearly filled to its current capacity. No new
refugees can be accommodated until more tents are erected. However, the current priority
at Camp Hope is the construction of water and sanitation facilities to service the
existing refugee camp population.
The U.S. Department of Defense DOD reports an incident of small arms fire at Camp Hope
on the afternoon of May 18. No further information is available aside from no injuries
were reported, and local authorities are investigating.
International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) reports that two warehouses in Durres
have been identified by government officials for use as refugee transit facilities.
The World Food Program (WFP) reports that it currently has less than 60,000 Humanitarian
Daily Rations (HDRs) in Albania. The largest stock of these (23,800) is in Shkoder, where
they are used for refugees in transit from Kukes to areas in the south. WFP stocks of
canned food, used as a substitute for HDRs, are also running low. However, the DART
reports that 340,000 HDRs are scheduled to arrive in Albania within the next 10 days.
Macedonia
- UNHCR headquarters estimates that there are currently 226,800 refugees in Macedonia,
1,400 of whom arrived on May 18. 1,128 refugees were transferred by air to third countries
on May 18. UNHCR reports that 76,400 refugees are living in camps and transit centers and
120,432 refugees are living with host families (registered by the Macedonian Red Cross).
UNHCR reports government estimates that 30,000 unregistered refugees are living elsewhere
in Macedonia.
- Early reports from UNHCR indicate that in the late hours of May 18 and early morning of
May 19, an additional 2,500 refugees arrived in Macedonia.
- UNHCR reports that more than 52,080 Kosovar refugees have been evacuated to 27 countries
under the Humanitarian Evacuation Program. UNHCR has received offers from 39 countries to
receive 135,000 refugees.
- According to UNHCR, the arrivals on May 18 and 19 told stories of Serb forces emptying
villages and occupying civilian houses and using barns to store artillery and
anti-aircraft guns. Refugees also said food was becoming scarce.
- Since May 5, refugees have been arriving daily in Stankovac I camp with green refugee
status cards, claiming to be new arrivals or there to visit family members. Refugees then
go to the camp administration and are registered as camp residents. Catholic Relief
Services (CRS) and UNHCR expressed concern about this recent influx, saying it contributes
to community perceptions of inequities in the camp. It is speculated that the possibility
of Humanitarian Evacuation Program (HEP) transfer may be the motivation behind this
influx. Stankovac I and II are the primary camp locations for identifying and transporting
refugees through the HEP.
- Several busloads of people have arrived at Cegrane camp from host families or from the
camps at Stankovac, thinking that they may be able to be evacuated to Germany or other
third countries. However, the only evacuations to Germany that may take place from Cegrane
are for refugees with medical problems in need of treatment abroad.
- Stankovac I's population has decreased by approximately 50 percent since May 7 due to
the HEP. CRS reported that plans to re-design the camp to take advantage of increased
space are being thwarted because refugee families quickly move into vacated tents. CRS and
UNHCR re-design priorities are the creation of firebreaks between tented areas; the
creation of contingency areas for potential rapid new inflows; and the achievement of
density and services standards including a minimum of 3.5 to 4.5 meters squared per
person.
- International Medical Corps (IMC) is delivering a full range of health services in
Stankovac II under an emergency health program funded by the U.S. Department of State,
Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (State/PRM). The clinic, open 24 hours a day,
consists of 12 large tents and sees an average of 400 patients per day.
- Cegrane has reported no major disease outbreaks, despite its status as Macedonia's
largest refugee camp. Primary health issues continue to be chronic problems such as
respiratory problems, heart disease, and diabetes. Medicines sans Frontiers (MSF) is
concerned that hot weather expected in the coming months may pose a problem. MSF is
currently seeing an average of 700 patients per day in Cegrane, and refers those needing
additional assistance to a field hospital that has just been set up by the Norwegian Red
Cross.
- There are now 31 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working at Cegrane and NGOs are
organizing refugee volunteers in the camps to provide services as well. Refugees are
taking part in the work of the camp, and those providing skilled labor, hard manual labor,
or professional services receive some compensation for their work. NGOs are expanding
child and family services in the camp.
- At Senokos camp, the DART reports that systems for refugee assistance are running well.
The camp has well-developed information and education services for refugees, and a social
services project is beginning which will provide psycho-social services, entertainment,
newspapers, an air-conditioned area, and English lessons.
- Preparations for Phase III of Senokos camp, which lays across a stream from Phase I, are
nearly complete. Tents for 3,000 to 5,000 new refugees have been erected while
construction of 80 latrines and 48 shower rooms were to be finished by May 18 (Phase I has
four showers). Doctors of the World, the camp's lead medical agency, has established and
stocked a clinic on site. 1,500 people were expected to arrive from Blace on May 18 to be
housed in Phase III.
- WFP reports that a joint UNHCR/UNICEF/WFP rapid health and food assessment survey in the
refugee camps will begin May 24 in the Stankovac I refugee camp. UNHCR and WFP are also
planning to send a food needs assessment mission to Macedonia within the next few weeks to
examine the question of food security in host families.
- DOD reports that one refugee flight is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. today, May 19.
McGuire Air Force Base/Ft. Dix will receive the 470 refugees on board. Another estimated
300 refugees will arrive at JFK Airport in New York on May 20.
| CAMP NAME |
NUMBER OF REFUGEES (as of 8:00 a.m. GMT on
May 19) |
| Stankovac I |
12,900 |
|
|
| Stankovac II |
17,400 |
|
|
| Blace Reception Center |
No refugees |
|
|
| Bojane |
2,500 |
|
|
| Neprosteno |
7,500 |
|
|
| Radusa |
800 |
|
|
| Radusa Collective Center |
400 |
|
|
| Senokos |
4,700 |
|
|
| Cegrane |
31,700 |
|
|
TOTAL |
77,900 |
|
UNHCR Humanitarian Evacuations
(beginning April 6 to date)
| Receiving Country |
# of Refugees |
| Australia |
1,250 |
| Austria |
2,742 |
| Belgium |
1,223 |
| Canada |
3,851 |
| Croatia |
188 |
| Czech Republic |
834 |
| Denmark |
1,182 |
| Finland |
962 |
| France |
3,298 |
| Germany |
12,018 |
| Iceland |
70 |
| Ireland |
300 |
| Israel |
106 |
| Italy |
2,085 |
| Netherlands |
2,014 |
| Norway |
4,081 |
| Poland |
1,049 |
| Portugal |
506 |
| Romania |
41 |
| Slovakia |
90 |
| Slovenia |
305 |
| Spain |
683 |
| Sweden |
1,695 |
| Switzerland |
672 |
| Turkey |
7,475 |
| United Kingdom |
1,019 |
| United States |
2,341 |
| TOTAL** |
52,080 |
** Some refugees were moved to third countries by the GOM w/o UNHCR/IOM
involvement: 10,000 to Albania, 5,500 to Greece, 2,243 to Turkey, and 88 to Croatia. (Source:
UNHCR/Geneva) |
Montenegro
- UNHCR headquarters estimates that there are 64,000 refugees in Montenegro. UNHCR
reported that approximately 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) arrived from Kosovo
between May 14 and 17. UNHCR estimates 300 IDPs left Macedonia for Albania on May 16 and
17.
Region
- IFRC and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported May 18 that the
ICRC assessment mission in Kosovo is continuing. The Head of the Delegation is in
Pristina, re-establishing contacts with the Kosovo branch of the Yugoslav Red Cross.
- WFP reports that a FOCUS convoy carrying 8 MTs of food was unable to leave as scheduled
for Pristina yesterday due to administrative complications. Another convoy to Pristina is
scheduled for 20 May.
Commodities
Financial Support
- To date the USG has provided nearly $200 million in response to the Kosovo crisis,
beginning in March 1998. On May 18 President Clinton announced an additional $15 million
toward the crisis under the Emergency Migration and Refugee Assistance account (ERMA). The
$15 million ERMA funds have yet to be spent and therefore do not appear in the totals
below.
| USAID/BHR |
$92,336,720 |
| State/PRM |
$59,779,500 |
| DOD |
$45,281,000 |
| TOTAL |
$197,397,220 |
|
| The Background and Public Donation Information sections
of this Factsheet are provided as a courtesy to the reader and have not changed
substantially since the previous Factsheet. All new information is underlined/highlighted |
Background:
- In late February 1998, following an unprecedented series of clashes in Kosovo between
Serbian police forces and members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Serbian police
raided villages in Kosovo's Drenica region, a KLA stronghold. The police reportedly burned
homes and killed dozens of ethnic Albanians in these raids. Thousands of ethnic Albanians
in Pristina protested Serb police actions, and were subsequently attacked by the police
with tear gas, water cannons, and clubs.
- As a result of the fighting, thousands of Kosovar Albanians were displaced from their
homes, many taking refuge with host families, while a smaller proportion (several
thousand) took to the hills and forests.
Public Donation Information:
- In the interest of effective coordination of such public response, we encourage
concerned citizens to provide monetary donations to appropriate organizations. USAID
encourages the public to contact directly those private voluntary organizations (PVOs)
currently working in the region to provide monetary donations. A list of those PVOs may be
obtained from the USAID website at www.info.usaid.gov.
The list is composed of PVOs that are registered with USAID and/or listed by InterAction,
a coalition of voluntary humanitarian and development organizations that work overseas;
InterAction can be contacted at 1-818-502-4288, or via the Internet at www.interaction.org. Those interested in providing
specific technical relief services or commodities should contact Volunteers in Technical Assistance's (VITA) Disaster
Information Center for information and guidelines (703) 276-1914.
- For more information, please contact the public donations hotline at 1-800-USAID-RELIEF,
which is staffed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On May 18, 100 calls were
made to the public donation hotline. Since April 6, a total of 48,454 calls have been
received by the hotline.
- Past USAID/OFDA Factsheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at the following URL:
http://www.info.usaid.gov/ofda/situation.html.
|
|
|
Document compiled by Dr S D Stein