EMOP 6136.01 - Food assistance to refugees, IDPs and social cases in the Balkan region
The Bi-Weekly Balkan Operations Sitrep is published on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

REGIONAL UPDATE

There continues to be an increase in violence in Kosovo. In the past two weeks, two prominent Kosovars, reporter Shefki Popova and the Director of Planning, Reconstruction and Development in Pristina, Rexhep Luci, have been brutally murdered outside their homes. There is concern that Mr. Luci's murder is linked to his opposition to illegal construction in Pristina. No motive has been established in the murder of Mr. Popova.

NATO is reinforcing the current force of 40,000 KFOR troops by an additional 2,400. The first reinforcements arrived on 19 September 2000.

It was confirmed on 19 September 2000 that the FRY President Slobodan Milosevic would be visiting Berane in Montenegro for campaigning purposes. This is Milosevic's first visit to Montenegro as FRY President. The last time he was in Montenegro, he visited as Serbian President to attend the Yugoslav Army's Special Forces (VJ) Laser 21 exercise in May 1996.

The Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID) in Belgrade has been informed by the Yugoslav Federal Election Commission (SIK) that it would not be allowed to monitor the upcoming elections because non of the election laws foresee domestic monitors.

The tension in Montenegro continues to grow in anticipation of the election. Vujanovic's pro-Western government has called on Montenegrins to boycott the vote, citing constitutional changes imposed by Milosevic that weaken the republic's clout in the two-state federation. Despite the call for a boycott, Montenegro officials have said that they will not prevent those loyal to Milosevic from voting on Montenegrin territory. Milosevic's supporters in Montenegro say they will organize voting in the republic, raising further questions of manipulation in the his favour.

FIELD OFFICE UPDATES

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) - Kosovo

All partners (WFP, UNHCR, UNMIK, IPs and LDPs) are currently working together to resolve discrepancies between Category I beneficiary lists and the food lists of LDPs (principally duplication of names). Any questionable cases identified will be verified through household visits by CSW staff. The end result will be accurate food distribution lists for the next round of payments.

In an on-going coordination effort, WFP has lent two wickhalls to the British KFOR forces. This follows the help KFOR has given to WFP in providing escorts for WFP trucks into restricted areas of Kosovo.

In August 2000, WFP distributed commodities to 239,953 beneficiaries. This number is higher than the original planned figure due to ration sharing among beneficiaries and the additional number of Category I beneficiaries from the UNMIK CSW scheme.

The joint UNHCR/WFP assessment on minority food needs has been concluded. The report is due outon 25 September 2000.

FRY - Serbia (excluding Kosovo)

In order to ensure compliance with the revised pensioner criteria, WFP is working closely with YRC to avoid any misunderstanding. YRC secretaries stated that it is possible to reduce the number pensioners currently receiving food aid, but they are concern about the pensioners that do not fall into the revised criteria. WFP and YRC agreed to utilise posters and notices to educate the beneficiaries about the revised criteria prior to implementation.

IISA will be distributing commodities to three additional institutions for disabled children. In addition, they will be taking over the distribution in Vozdovac (two institutions) and Savski Venac(one institution). These institutions were previously receiving food rations from the YRC.

In Nis AOR, the ICRC provided transport for the distribution of WFP commodities to distant villages.

FRY - Montenegro

WFP monitored the north, center and south AORs, reviewing stock cards, distribution lists and waybills for accuracy. With the exception of one problem in Herceg Novi, all was in order. The problem in Herceg Novi is a discrepancy between the planned and received quantities of WFP commodities. WFP will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Prepositioning of stocks for the upcoming winter was discussed at the 11 September Food Aid Coordination Meeting. It was agreed that in, in October, commodities for three months would be distributed to MRC branches and collective centers in remote areas in order to cover the first part of the winter.

FYRoM

At present, there are 9,152 refugees in the country.

2,267 are living in six collective centres, 
3,692 registered refugees resident with host families and 
3,193 refugees called "persons of concern"

The process of screening the caseload of 3,193 "persons of concern" will be completed by the end of September. Once this exercise has been completed, UNHCR/WFP expects that the current refugee caseload of 9,152 will drop to an estimated 8,000 people.

Albania

Work on the Klos irrigation canal with WFP FFW assistance has started. The first phase will cover a distance of 8 kilometres and will involve 93 participant families drawn from neighboring villages. The irrigation canal has not been fully functional since 1991. WFP will monitor project implementation regularly to evaluate the viability of FFW. Total tonnage of food aid required is 10 MT. The project is expected to be completed within three months.

WFP is in the process of finalizing the LOU for the Zall Baster pilot food project with the Directorate for Community of Forestry and Pasture Management project. The revised project proposal will initially involve 34 beneficiaries with the number likely to increase as work commences. Implementation of the ongoing forestry and pasture management activities has in the past been hampered by a lack of available participant workers from local communes.

RESOURCING UPDATE AND PIPELINE

Confirmed contributions to EMOP 6136.01 as of 19 September 2000 amount to approximately 55.6 million dollars (45.60%). The current shortfall is 66.3 million dollars.