Briefly...

In spite of the provisions spelled out in the peace agreements that concluded the Yugoslav wars, the number of minority returns throughout the former Yugoslavia is still low, indicating that there are considerable barriers to repatriation. The failure to draw refugees back to their towns and villages threatens the reconstruction of civic life, hinders the process of reconciliation and postpones the permanent conclusion of hostilities.

The return of minorities is a regional matter. Minorities often occupy houses that belong to others (e.g., in

BELGRADE, Dec 14 (AFP) - The UN World Food Programme will provide increased aid to about 890,000 people in Serbia proper next year, the head of the WFP's Belgrade office said Tuesday.

"We are planning to increase our program significantly for the year 2000... and we will aid about 10 percent of the population in Serbia," Robert Hauser told reporters.

The goal represents a significant increase in aid over 1999, when the UN agency assisted roughly 540.000 people, he added.

About 337,000 Serb refugees from Bosnia

IP/99/963
Brussels, 8 December 1999 - The Commission adopted today a communication put forward by the Commissioner responsible for External Relations, Chris Patten, setting out guidelines and detailed arrangements for the implementation of the Community's future assistance to certain countries of South East Europe-Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) for 2000-2006. The Communication aims to tailor the delivery of assistance to the region more closely to the objectives of

Closing Remarks by Mrs. Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at the Meeting of the Humanitarian Issues Working Group of the Peace Implementation Council
Geneva, 8 December 1999

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today's meeting of the Humanitarian Issues Working Group has been a remarkable opportunity to reflect on the challenges we are currently facing in addressing problems of forced human displacement in South-Eastern Europe, and to plan the way ahead. As our discussion has clearly indicated, the events of 1999 have added new layers

Geneva, 8 December 1999
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

An extraordinary year for South-Eastern Europe is about to end. The Kosovo crisis challenged the international community in ways that are unprecedented even in this troubled area, and the situation remains very fragile. Kosovo, however, marked a turning point in the history of the region. The Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe is not only a comprehensive response to the Kosovo tragedy - it is also an ambitious and visionary attempt to manage the crises that have shattered the Balkans since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This is a summary of what was said by the UNHCR spokesperson at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations. Quoted text from this briefing note may be attributed to the UNHCR spokesperson named below
Ron Redmond

Timor

The repatriation program in East Timor has reached a critical stage that has resulted in a sharp drop in the number of returnees. Preliminary figures indicate only around 250 people joined the UNHCR-IOM convoys across three repatriation corridors to East Timor today - the lowest number of returnees since we began repatriation on October 8.

EMERGENCY SHELTER
Emergency repair kits - Over 70% of the total number of repair kits have been distributed by ECHO, UNHCR and OFDA/USAID. UNHCR has distributed 13,000 kits to more than 300 villages throughout the province with priority allocation given to the highly damaged regions of Pec, Djakovica and Mitrovica. ECHO has distributed more kits in the regions of Pristina, Djakovica and Prizren. UNHCR's balance of 3,000 kits (see below) will be distributed to houses receiving roofing kits to augment their dry-room capacity to host more persons. Both ECHO

This is a summary of what was said by the UNHCR spokesperson at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations. Quoted text from this briefing note may be attributed to the UNHCR spokesperson named below
Ron Redmond

Angolan refugees in Namibia

Fighting between government troops and UNITA in southern Angola sent some 2,400 Angolans, most of them women, children and elderly, fleeing to northern Namibia's Kavango region over the past 15 days.

Extremely difficult living conditions exacerbated by the rainy season mean many of the refugees arrive in poor

How much is required?
Total of US$ 659.8 million for:

Human Rights, Protection & Promotion of Solutions: US$ 85 million; Food Security: US$ 157.8 million; Health, Education & Community Services: US$ 116.3 million; Shelter/Non-food items & Rehabilitation: US$ 154.5 million; Multi-Secotral Assistance & Programme Support: US$ 141.8 million; Headquarters SEO & LO Western Europe/Regional Coordination: US$ 4.1 million

WHERE IS IT HAPPENING?

• For the purpose of the Consolidated Appeals Process, the Southeastern Europe region includes five countries,