Regional: Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Kosovo

Source: UNHCR Geneva.

Kosovo

• UNHCR reports that 8,958 Kosovars returned to Kosovo between July 14 and 15 from neighboring countries, bringing overall returns from countries in the region to approximately 677,000 since 15 June.
• IOM has assisted in the return of over 1,266 refugees from non-neighboring host countries to Kosovo via Macedonia as of July 15. 738 of the refugees arrived from Germany while the remaining are from Canada, Netherlands, Austria, and Australia. On July 16, IOM has scheduled four flights to Skopje with a total of 575 passengers including about 320 from Germany. On July 14, 714 refugees departed from host countries.
• UNHCR reports that hundreds of Kosovo Serb displaced persons have reportedly arrived in the predominantly Serb Leposavic and Zubin Potok areas of northern Kosovo over the last few days, apparently returning from the Kraljevo and Kragujevac areas of Serbia proper.
• According to UNHCR, 139,000 ethnic Serbs have crossed into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. These ethnic Serbs are now living in collective centers with Krajina Serbs, with host families, or are transiting to other area. The largest groups of displaced Serbs are found in the areas around Novi Sad and Belgrade. These displaced Serbs are particularly vulnerable because they are not receiving their pensions, are not allowed to work, and their travel documentation will not be extended, according to UNHCR in Pristina. Although Belgrade authorities have asked for assistance from UNHCR, FRY authorities themselves have not provided any assistance to the displaced.
• USAID/DART is working to establish an urban sector task force to deal with urban shelter issues. The task force will examine both the availability of host family and collective center options and the need for these services.
• A recent World Food Program rapid household food security assessment found that while there will continue to be a need for significant levels of food assistance in Kosovo through June of 2000, it should be possible to effectively target this assistance both geographically and to those most in need. WFP is projecting a progressive reduction of the Kosovo-wide beneficiary caseload from a current target of 1.36 million to approximately 900,000 for the period September 1999 through March 2000, and eventually 600,000 through June of 2000.
• The WFP team found that at least one-half of rural families receive remittances from family members abroad. Once in Kosovo, the money is spread more or less evenly throughout the rural population—resulting in an average income of approximately 2500 DM (approximately $1,350) per rural family per year. Estimating normal agricultural production costs and the cost of essential non-food commodities, and adding to these normal food purchases, the WFP team arrived at a minimum monthly-income level per family of ten of 400 DM. This calculation, was cross-checked in interviews with key-informants throughout the province, and was found to correspond closely to qualitative definitions of poverty in every area of responsibility (AOR).
• WFP's findings indicate that the 70 percent of rural families not expected to have any agricultural production this year will not achieve even the minimum, 400 DM per month income level before the next harvest cycle, in June of 2000. In addition, their need to purchase food, due to the loss of harvests and livestock will increase dramatically. This puts the entire affected rural population (approximately 833,000 people) at risk.

Albania

• UNHCR reports that 5,600 refugees returned to Kosovo from Albania on July 14 and 15.
• According to the OSCE a rash of looting and attacks at camps, collection centers and way stations has increased concern among humanitarian groups. Most feel that the assaults are a reflection of local residents' desperation as resources continue to flow out of Albania to Kosovo.
• The UNHCR is assessing the number of refugees still in camps and collective centers, along with those with host families. It is estimated that there are still some 16,700 refugees in just a few camps.

Macedonia

• UNHCR reports that a total of 700 refugees returned to Kosovo on July 14 and 15, bringing the total returns to 213,500.
• On July 15, UNHCR reported 2,373 refugees crossed into Macedonia from the FRY. Of this total, 2,072 held passports and 301 carried MRC green cards or UNHCR temporary cards.
• According to UNHCR, there were 8,652 in the remaining five camps in Macedonia including Stenkovec II (2,088), Neprosteno (2,000), Senokos (520), Radusa Collective Center (156), and Cegrane (3,888). There are an estimated 20,980 refugees in host families, as estimated by the Government of Macedonia's Ministry of the Interior. This brings the total number of refugees in Macedonia to 29,632.
• UNHCR hopes to be able to close all the camps by early October and to house remaining refugees in collective centers. The facilities should soon be allocated by the government and necessary rehabilitation work will be carried out under UNHCR auspices, at an estimated cost of $2 million.
• According to UNHCR, there are about 1,000 Albanian refugees remaining in Stenkovec II from Presevo, located in Serbia proper. Many of these refugees cannot return to Serbia and wish to be evacuated to asylum countries. Additionally, UNHCR reports there are 671 Kosovar Serbs in Bitola Epachi, most of whom are staying with host families and are considered non-mandate refugees by UNHCR. Most of these refugees are also not receiving any assistance, UNHCR reports.
• UNHCR reports it has in stock, as of July 15, an average of over 15 percent of commodities needed to assist 1.1 million returnees in Kosovo. UNHCR's supply of stoves and plastic sheeting and blankets are reportedly low. UNHCR reports it has a sufficient stock of tents, hygienic kits, and mattresses in Macedonia.
• The Government of Macedonia (GOM) and 29 governments hosting some 92,000 Kosovar Albanians evacuated from Macedonia under the UNHCR/IOM Humanitarian Evacuation Program (HEP) have officially endorsed UNHCR's and IOM's coordination role in returning refugees on a voluntary basis. Skopje will be the coordination hub, but UNHCR expects Pristina airport may become operational for return flights in the coming weeks.
• Heavy rains over the past weekend caused flooding in Cegrane, overwhelming the drainage system, UNHCR reports. UNHCR is working to complete the drainage network in the camp soon and plans to move refugees to less vulnerable areas to avoid future problems.
• UNHCR and NGOs report that all refugees in Cegrane camp are now allowed to take their tents to Kosovo when they return. The refugees are allowed to take only small tents, many of which are in poor condition already. According to NGOs, returning refugees in Stenkovec II are not allowed to take their tents.
• WFP reports it has started deliveries to MRC branches for July distributions to refugees in host families. June distributions are not yet complete in Kumanovo. IFRC/MRC is also distributing CRS food to host families, and food from various donors to social cases. IFRC will also continue to provide their own hygiene parcels.

Refugee Camp and Collective Center Information: Macedonia
Date: July 16, 1999, 00:00hrs GMT

Source: UNHCR Skopje.

Montenegro

• UNHCR reports that 900 Kosovars returned on July 14 and 15.
• UNHCR reports that many of the Roma leaving Kosovo have fled to Montenegro. The Roma population there remains very mobile, and those displaced from Kosovo are difficult to distinguish from Roma coming from other parts of Serbia or Montenegro.
• UNHCR reports that a total of 14 collective centers still house displaced people from Kosovo, including Serbs, Montenegrins, Roma and Albanians.

Commodities

• No new information.

Financial Support

• To date, the U.S. Government (USG) has provided over $291 million in response to the Kosovo crisis since March 1998.

USAID/BHR	$146,360,393
State/PRM	$99,494,601
DOD	$45,281,000
TOTAL	$291,135,994