RED CROSS & RED CRESCENT INFORMATION - October-November 1999
This report is published as a general update on Red Cross/Red Crescent activities in response to the Balkans crisis, primarily for the Movement's components and supporters. This text is also found on the Internet at www.ifrc.org and www.icrc.org
LATEST EVENTS
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Overview
In relative terms, despite the fact that no major events have occurred, the external environment was far from static during the review period in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Interna-tional isolation continued, and the economic situation further deteriorated, resulting in many people having to face winter without employment, adequate shelter or functioning public utili-ties in Serbia. Fears concerning the lack of heating/electricity and basic food commodities in Serbia also rose, resulting in higher vulnerability numbers anticipated as winter develops.
Some 25-30% of people are unemployed, and for those earning, the average salary in October was 1,277 dinars (CHF 175) in Serbia and 1,997 dinars (CHF 274) in Montenegro. While this represents a 10% increase from the previous month, agricultural products rose by 20% during the same period. Basic food commodities (milk, sugar, cooking oil, etc) were very hard to find in state shops, and when available were between 40 and 100% higher in private shops, with the Economic Institute anticipating the annual inflation rate to be 70% during 1999. The introduc-tion of a dual currency system in Montenegro and the Platform for Change regarding the status between the two Republics, were the overriding factors in Montenegro.
In the months under review, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has been fully implementing all its programmes in Serbia and Montenegro, providing a monthly average of 8,500 metric tonnes (mt) of food and hygiene assistance to the beneficiaries. Additionally, over 100 national and international humanitarian organisations have also started bringing their assistance into the country to be distributed through the Yugoslav Red Cross (YRC) network, which in October alone handled 15,000 mt of food and non-food assistance for over one million refugees, internally displaced and socially vulnerable people. Therefore, an important aspect of International Federation and ICRC activities has also been support to the YRC structures to bring the aid to the beneficiaries as promptly as possible. The need to act efficiently has required daily coordination between all the Red Cross workers, particularly in the field and at local branch level.
Relief
IDP programme: The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) receiving food assistance (a 10-kg individual parcel and 10 kg of wheat flour/person/month) in Serbia at the end of November was 213,258 - requiring over 4,000 mt of supplies. The breakdown per region covered by the joint field offices was: Belgrade (105,689); Novi Sad (11,989); Kraljevo (49,714); and Nis (45,866).
The IDPs have also been receiving a family hygiene parcel every second month. From the beginning of November, 1 kg of milk powder per person per month has been distributed to all IDPs. In addition, emergency assistance comprising mattresses, blankets and baby hygiene parcels is distributed upon request.
In Montenegro, the food programme has been covering 54,000 beneficiaries (IDPs and social cases) each month. In addition to this, the ICRC is providing fresh food for kitchens in collective centres for some 1,400 especially vulnerable beneficiaries.
Soup kitchen programme: This programme, which aims to reach up to 100,000 socially vulnerable people in Serbia, has been constantly improving since its revamp in July. Hot meals now account for 70% and lunch parcels 30%, with the number of recipients of hot meals totalling over 56,000 at the end of November. Cooking facilities, of which presently there are 82, are still opening, as are distribution points (219 at the end of November). About 35 mt of food are used to cook hot meals every day. In October alone, well over one million meals were prepared in the soup kitchens.
The programme has also gained in quality under the management of Participating National Societies in the following regions: Nis (German Red Cross), Belgrade East (Italian Red Cross), Belgrade West (Belgian Red Cross), Kraljevo (Danish Red Cross) and Novi Sad (Canadian Red Cross).
Since September, the YRC has been organising seminars for its local secretaries and soup kitchen managers and cooks to improve the organisational aspects of the programme and, most of all, make the meals prepared from the 12 food items supplied by the ICRC as nutritional, diverse and tasty as possible.
Refugee programme: The Federal Republic hosts the highest number of refugees of any European country and some recent statistical evidence suggest that it is now the poorest nation in Europe. While the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995 brought an end to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, it left 560,000 refugees in the Federal Republic. Few have managed to return to their homes and, due to the depreciating socio-economic situation in the country, are finding integration increasingly difficult. Refugees are prohibited from working; as such they have little means of supporting themselves, and live in collective centres or with friends/relatives, often in desperate conditions. Many are reliant on humanitarian aid for their every day survival.
In addition to an ECHO funded programme covering hygiene parcels, beans, sugar and oil, the International Federation continued to fund a food programme for refugees aged over 65 years, who live in private accommodation and do not receive any humanitarian assistance from other organisations. During October, quantities of beans (46.7 mt), oil (45.5 mt) and wheat floor (227 mt) were distributed to 55,369 beneficiaries in Serbia.
Due to the increased levels of vulnerable refugees in the Federal Republic, food distributions will shortly be increased from the current 125,000 refugees to a new total of 360,000 refugees. Refugees meeting the criteria will receive flour or rice, beans, canned meat, oil, sugar, powdered milk and yeast on a monthly basis. While beans, sugar and oil are already incoming, sourcing and procurement for the canned meat, milk powder and yeast were completed during November, for distribution during the following month.
The hygiene parcel programme is also ongoing for 225,500 vulnerable refugees, who receive one hygiene box every three months, containing the following items: 4 rolls of toilet paper; 2 soaps; 1 bottle of shampoo; 1 pack of sanitary pads; 1 tube of toothpaste and 3 kgs of washing powder. During November distributions also commenced for 14,085 International Federation-funded baby hygiene parcels, for vulnerable mothers/babies in the Vojvodina region. The International Federation/YRC is also compiling beneficiary lists for the 100 Korean Red Cross funded wheelchairs for war victims.
Among winter activities, 30,000 ECHO/Norwegian Red Cross funded sets of underwear for elderly refugees (aged over 65) living in private accommodation are at the procurement stage. Over 82,000 beneficiaries will receive British Red Cross funded jackets and pairs of shoes (for children under 14 years). The items have reached the Federal Republic and will be distributed to refugee children under the winter programme.
Glass programme: The objective of the programme has been to replace glazing in hospitals, health centres, gerontology centres and collective centres damaged during the hostilities. Some 41 institutions, mostly in Vojvodina and southern Serbia, have been glazed and the programme has been practically completed according to schedule, with over 8,000 m2 of glass installed.
Winterization: The distribution of winter jackets, sweaters and boots for 240,000 internally displaced and socially vulnerable people in Serbia and Montenegro is ongoing. The bulk of the assistance has been purchased locally. In addition, almost the entire quantity of 10,000 cooking/heating stoves, the majority commissioned from two local producers, have arrived at regional and local warehouses and are being distributed. The distribution of winter items is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
Logistics: The ICRC fleet - comprising 45 trucks, 30 trailers and over 60 light vehicles -transports assistance into and throughout the country, in some areas also assisting the YRC with micro distributions. In November, this fleet was transporting over 2,700 mt per week.
Health
Water/habitat: The water distribution system supplying 90,000 inhabitants of three municipalities on the Danube's right bank in Novi Sad, set up in July, continued to run to full capacity during the review period. With the completion of the underwater pipeline which is to reconnect the two banks in Novi Sad, the system will be dismantled. In the meantime, a water supply system has been built for the Roma settlement of Veliki Rit, also in Novi Sad, for about 3,000 people - a large number of them IDPs from Kosovo. In southern Serbia, several municipalities have continued to receive ad hoc assistance in basic equipment and spare parts necessary for the normal water supply.
The repairs of the Muscular Dystrophy Institute in Novi Pazar (glass, elevators, two treatment pools, rooms and the roof), which were carried out in two phases, have been completed. A new water quality control programme directed at public health reference institutes - and involving material assistance and training - is being implemented by the ICRC and Swedish Red Cross.
Medical: The Japanese Red Cross has continued to run the programme supplying 12 YRC pharmacies with drugs for chronic diseases. The November delivery included 41 drugs, nine of which were purchased. Also in November, the ICRC medical team delivered assistance to 21 health centres and 17 hospitals in Serbia. The supplies include minor surgery, injection, dispensary and paediatric sets and dressing material for the health centres, while the hospitals have received surgical, suture, infusion, catheter and paediatric items. Medical sets, analgesics and antibiotics are also distributed.
Health Education and Preventive Health Programme: The International Federation/YRC's health programme aims to assist Red Cross branches to develop and run health activities and train volunteers/professionals, while the voluntary blood donation programme aims to upgrade public awareness and promote voluntary blood donation (VBD), especially among young people. In November, 120 participants attended two one-day seminars for teachers, health workers, and students, organised by the YRC's Belgrade branch. Trained participants will promote VBD in schools and faculties. The Red Cross in Vojvodina organised two, three-day seminars for 100 participants, including volunteers and VBD Commission members.
Social Welfare
In order to ensure that the Red Cross branches can accommodate the growing social needs of vulnerable people in the Federal Republic, the International Federation assists the YRC with the development of social welfare programmes - in total 117 Red Cross branches now offer some type of social welfare function. On 9 November the first meeting of co-workers from all branches with clubs was held in Pancevo, near Belgrade, whereby the secretaries presented their respective programmes and shared experiences. This was especially valuable for those branches at the implementing phase of their programme. Discussions also took place with Danish Red Cross personnel, who are planning to start a programme focusing on children affected by armed conflicts in one region of Serbia.
Repatriation/Reintegration
This programme gives support to publications created by self-help groups for refugees in the Federal Republic, highlighting repatriation and reintegration issues to ensure that refugees have timely, impartial and accurate information. Regular funding support from the Swedish Red Cross has been given to the weekly refugee newspaper Odgovor, the regional repatriation bimonthly magazine Return and the Montenegrin refugee newspaper Vrela. During November, the International Federation supported a special Odgovor supplement covering elections in Croatia and an agreement was reached for the Federation to jointly fund, with UNHCR, an English edition of Return, for the international NGO and media audiences. Work on a refugee/IDP information booklet to accompany the Vrela newspaper also progressed. During November, 10,000 table calendars focusing on the promotion of tolerance were jointly created by the International Federation/YRC, to be distributed during the following month.
Branch Income Generation
Given the general downward trend in international donations over the past few years, coupled with the decline in the domestic economy, it has been increasingly difficult for Red Cross branches to raise funds. In November, the Swedish Red Cross funded a further 17 branch income generation projects, which should enable the recipient branches to become more autonomous and run additional programmes in their region for people in need.
Disaster Preparedness
A nationwide disaster preparedness action plan has been produced by the YRC. Preparations for such programmes include assessments of available stocks, the number of trained volunteers and other material support required to implement such programmes. In the Vojvodina region, it has been anticipated that up to half a million people could be affected by flooding in the late winter period, due to destroyed bridges and ice. Consequently the feasibility of running a pilot Red Cross disaster preparedness programme in Vojvodina is being examined.
Protection/Tracing
With the increasing difficulties for the IDPs in Serbia to communicate through postal services with family members remaining in Kosovo, the Red Cross message network has gained in significance. So far, some 8,000 Red Cross messages have been exchanged between civilians in Kosovo and Serbia proper. In addition, the ICRC facilitated family contact for the people detained in Serbia by delivering and collecting close to 10,000 such messages. Family reunions continued to be carried out mainly for two categories of the population: patients receiving treatment in hospitals in Serbia proper and being transported back to their homes in Kosovo, and reuniting elderly people who had stayed in Kosovo, while their relatives were in Serbia. A total of 203 such reunions have been carried out thus far.
The YRC has started seminars for its tracing staff, with the support of the ICRC. In October and November, the ICRC visited 406 detainees held in nine detention places in Serbia. It also assisted 73 released detainees to return to their homes by transporting them to their places of origin in Kosovo (54 of them were released in a group, while the other 19 were released individually throughout the period).
Information and Publicity
Fact sheets and information to the press have been provided to the media and other interlocutors. A video on the joint approach in Serbia has also been produced in Belgrade. Interviews and briefings were given to local and international press, the latter showing increasing interest in the assistance programmes in Serbia.
Participating National Societies
The Japanese (humanitarian pharmacies), German, Italian, Belgian, Danish, Canadian (soup kitchens), Finnish (repair of the lung and tuberculosis wing of Belgrade's "Dragisa Misovic" hospital) and Swedish (water quality control) Red Cross Societies are now firmly established in Serbia, integrated in the operations and active in their programmes.
Kosovo
The ICRC's Kosovo mission comprises more than 100 international staff assisted by approximately 400 local employees. Currently, the International Federation has assigned four delegates to Kosovo, supported by local staff. Some twenty National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are working and running projects on behalf of, or in partnership with, the ICRC in Kosovo.
Protection and Detention
The ICRC is visiting some 1,700 persons held in Serbia proper, in order to verify their conditions of detention and enable them to remain in contact with their relatives in Kosovo. Over 4,250 Red Cross messages have been delivered to prisoners' relatives in Kosovo and 3,600 to the prisons. The ICRC also visited those detained by KFOR, CIVPOL and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and by police in Gnjilane/Gjilan, Mitrovica, Pec/Peja, Pristina and Prizren.
More than 3,000 persons have come to the ICRC offices to report their missing or arrested relatives. ICRC is completing a campaign of tracing by event, visiting the communities in order to gather information on the people who have disappeared in similar circumstances. Seven family link centres in Kosovo support those who are seeking information about missing relatives. So far, 175 people have been assisted with family reunions and 3,400 Red Cross messages have been exchanged both internationally and internally.
Health
Since October, 187 people have received advice on health matters from the ICRC as well as access to medical services. Supplies of blood transfusion equipment were given to the six main hospitals of Kosovo, including blood bags, serum for testing blood groups and laboratory kits to ensure that donated blood is not contaminated by HIV or other diseases. The ICRC arranged a blood donation session among its own staff and encouraged international organisations to do the same. The local Red Cross is also participating in the recruitment of voluntary blood donors.
Several Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are active in the health sector under the co-ordination of the ICRC:
- The Finnish Red Cross manages Gnjilane/Gjilan Hospital and a dispensary in Vitina/Viti.
- The Norwegian Red Cross manages the Stimlje/Shtime institute for mentally handicapped and psychiatric patients.
- The Japanese Red Cross in Decani/Decan area, has renovated the state pharmacy and nine dispensaries.
- The German Red Cross has rehabilitated a paediatric clinic in Pec/Pej and is rehabilitating the health house of Strpce/Shterpce; central heating has been installed in Stimlje/Shtime institute.
- The Danish Red Cross started a psycho-social programme in Mitrovica and Vucitrn/Vushtrri for traumatised school children.
- The Spanish Red Cross donated the first ambulance and is supporting patient transport in Pec/Peja, Istok/Istog and Decani/Decan.
- The Turkish Red Crescent provides a mobile medical team covering 36 villages, serving 6,000 people around Prizren.
- The Saudi Red Crescent donated seven ambulances in October and provided 10 dispensaries with medicine.
Water-sanitation
Since July, in various rural areas of Kosovo, the ICRC has cleaned and disinfected 3,905 wells in order to improve the water supply to 75,000 people. The urban areas served by Kosovo water boards in Zubin Potok, Pec/Peja, Orahovac/Rahovec,Urosevac/Ferizaj, Gnjilane/Gjilan, Glogovce/Gllogoc and Lipljan/Lipjan have also been supported. To ensure control of water quality, the ICRC is also providing the institute of public health with the equipment and training necessary for seven major bacteriological, physical and chemical analytical laboratories in major urban centres.
Relief
The ICRC has made regular relief distributions in Kosovo, working in cooperation with other agencies. Since June, the ICRC has distributed 6,371 tons of food and 742 tonnes of non-food aid. Some 300 displaced families have also received assistance in urban Pristina. Several Red Cross Red Crescent Societies are also active in the distribution of relief supplies. The German, Netherlands, Belgium and American Red Cross Societies are running public soup kitchens, providing 300,000 hot meals monthly. These facilities provide five hot meals a week to a total of 13,000 beneficiaries.
Agriculture
The ICRC has distributed 3,350 tons of winter wheat seed and 3,000 tons of fertiliser since October. The programme will enable 18,000 families to benefit from a spring harvest. In October, the Norwegian Red Cross set up six workshops which have repaired 340 damaged tractors and trained young local mechanics. A number of powerful tractors have been brought into Kosovo to help with ploughing.
Reconstruction
Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies are contributing substantially to the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Kosovo:
- The Austrian Red Cross in Istok/Istog has provided 1,529 families with construction material to winterize one/two rooms and distributed 40,000 food parcels, 34,000 hygiene parcels and 950 stoves.
- The British Red Cross is repairing 28 schools in five regions of Kosovo (Malisevo, Djakovica/Gjakova, Glogovac/Gllogoc, Orahovac/Rahovec and Suva Reka/Suhareke), with 15 completed so far. Education kits for 60,000 children and teachers, as well as recreational kits to 156 schools, have also been provided.
- The Belgian Red Cross is working in Suvareka/Suharek and Vraniq to rehabilitate 333 houses - 116 completed and electricity installed in 323 - the local Red Cross offices, two schools and a dispensary.
- The Danish Red Cross is working in Vucitrn/Vushtrri and Mitrovica to reconstruct 1,500 houses and two schools, with plans to provide 300 shelter homes (231 completed).
- The French Red Cross is working in Mitrovica and Srbica/Skenderaj to reconstruct 738 houses in 16 villages (650 completed), eight schools and two dispensaries.
- The German Red Cross is providing building materials to repair 500 houses in Pec/Peja and 65 houses in Lodja/Loxha (41 completed); in Decani/Decan, 70 per cent of the rehabilitation work in schools, serving 9,000 children, has been completed.
- The Swiss Red Cross is repairing 130 houses in Decani/Decan and southern Pec/Peja; 90 houses and five schools have been completed in Voksa/Voksh, Pobergje/Poberde, Vitomirica, Kodradic and Shtupel/Stupelj.
- The Spanish Red Cross is repairing 25 schools in Pec/Peja, Istok/Istog, Novo Brdo/ Novoberde and Labljane/Llabjan.
- The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent has received material for 200 houses (category 5) for reconstruction in Djakovica/Gjakova, Pec/Peja and Vucitrn/Vushtrri - work has begun in five villages.
Mine awareness
Mines, unexploded ordinance (UXO) and cluster bombs continue to kill. However, latest trends indicate a clear decrease in the number of incidents. The ICRC's community-based mine awareness programme has 11 trained officers. So far, they have visited some 220 villages in the areas most affected by mines. They work with adults and children, raising awareness of mines and UXOs, teaching them the action to take when confronted by mines/UXOs and how to make their environment safer.
Local Red Cross in Kosovo
The six branches of the Kosovo and Metohija (Kosmet) Red Cross are coordinated by their headquarters in the northern town of Leposavic. During October, the leaderships of the Red Cross of Kosova and Kosmet Red Cross had a joint meeting to discuss working relationships, and concluded that they should work together for the benefit of those in need in Kosovo, with the International Federation working on proposals with the local Red Cross on how to achieve this. In November, preparations were being made for a meeting between the leadership of the Kosmet Red Cross, the Serbian Red Cross, the Yugoslav Red Cross, the International Federation and the ICRC to take place in the following month, focusing on operational matters and the coordination of the Kosmet Red Cross's activities in Kosovo. The Red Cross of Kosova is increasingly establishing itself in Kosovo, with the branches becoming more active and at least 20 now having an office and two employees.
During the review period, an information package on the local Red Cross was distributed, a branch profiles information collection project launched and guidelines established for all components of the Movement to follow in their relations with the local Red Cross structures. The International Federation's branch support programme for the Red Cross of Kosova and Kosmet branches aims to assist branches with training, furniture, technical equipment, stationery, the rehabilitation of offices, financial support for salaries and branch running costs. Over the two months covered by this report, discussions took place regarding appropriate salary support for Red Cross employees. Requests by seven local branches for repairs to Red Cross offices and warehouses have already been authorised and other requests are currently pending. It is hoped that a few of the branches will be able to have their premises repaired before the end of 1999, which should enable them to be more active in their respective areas of operation.
The International Federation, ICRC and Red Cross of Kosova also held the first Movement basic training course in relief management. Twenty seven local Red Cross staff and volunteers, from 15 branches, attended the workshop which was aimed at preparing the branches to carry out part of the Movement's winterization programme and distribute ECHO funded relief goods. This was yet another early step to increase the operational capacities of the Red Cross of Kosova for partnership actions with the Movement and other organisations. The International Federation is repairing five used vehicles to be donated to the local Red Cross from the Belgrade delegation. This will soon be followed by another three vehicles, donated by the Finnish Red Cross. The vehicles in Kosovo will be distributed to the local Red Cross in proportion to needs and existing branches.
Psycho-Social Support
Implementation of the psycho-social programme in Kosovo commenced on 1 September 1999. The programme works closely within the local Red Cross structures, giving support to the most vulnerable and traumatised people. Indeed, many people are psychologically vulnerable in Kosovo, with an urgent need for support in this area. As such, the five locations for the Red Cross centres and mobile outreach teams (MOTs) were identified in accordance with the regions which have the most adversely affected people, as follows: Djakovice (Gjakova), Glogovac (Glogovice), Pec (Peje), Podujevo, and Pristina. By the end of November, four psycho-social MOTs were operational in Kosovo, with centres in Gjakova and Peje open. During the same month, plans were being completed for the opening of a further two centres during December, in collaboration with the local Red Cross structures.
The MOTs provided psycho-social support in 26 villages during November, giving over 260 beneficiaries face-to-face assistance. Indirectly, approximately 800 of their family members also benefited from counselling. In accordance with data collected by the team, beneficiary ages range between infancy to 96 years old, and 55% are women. As the centres open, it is anticipated that some of the MOT beneficiaries will be referred to centres for further support. Notebooks and other supplies were also provided to the Leposavic Red Cross branch to help the social welfare staff restart the school for young Roma children, initiated in the summer. Many of these children do not know how to read and write. As a first step, they are being taught how to sign their names.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Overview
During October and November, operations to distribute relief supplies to refugees, host families and social cases throughout the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) continued. It is estimated that there were about 15,000 Kosovo refugees in the country towards the end of November. The Macedonian Red Cross, in cooperation with the International Federation delegation, provided support to about 71,500 social case families during the period, and preparations for the coming winter were implemented at all levels.
After extended negotiations in October and the beginning of November, UNHCR reached an agreement with refugees still living in camps for their transfer either to host families or collective centres. This change led to a slight increase in Red Cross beneficiaries.
Relief
During the review period, the focus of relief distributions increasingly shifted towards the coming winter. In November double distributions of food and non-food items to refugees, host families and social cases took place. Approximately 10,000 refugees received bulk food (supplied from WFP) in October with the planning figure for November set at 12,000. Some 2,100 host families received food items (from WFP) in October and nearly 2,400 in November. For the needs of 71,592 registered social case families, about 40,000 hygiene parcels were dispatched from the central warehouses and distributed to local Red Cross branches in October. Furthermore, an additional 12,114 people, in need of support but not on the Ministry of Social Welfare social case lists, received assistance.
Logistics
The review period saw a reduction in incoming stocks for the International Federation's logistics department, with the closing of one of the three warehouses. During October, the ICRC warehouse in Skopje took delivery of 39,733 baby kits, while 20,000 blankets were dispatched to Kosovo. In the following month, the warehouse booked 17,116 individual food parcels, with 6,710 hygiene parcels and 10,000 blankets dispatched to Kosovo.
Protection
In November, the ICRC tracing agency had registered 1998 vulnerable people, of whom 917 were unaccompanied children. Cumulative figures through 30 November include: the opening of 940 family reunion requests (264 for unaccompanied children) and the closing of 912, with 238 family reunions. In addition, the ICRC carried out 475 'spontaneous' family reunions, including 274 involving unaccompanied children. Over the two months, the ICRC's tracing offices received 429 visitors and 362 telephone calls.
Water-Sanitation
The water-sanitation project undertaken in three villages located in the Struga, Kicevo and Debar areas is proceeding according to plan, aimed at improving water quality and access. The expected benefits are improved long-term water supply and health conditions for nearly 3,000 beneficiaries by the end of 1999 and increased visibility for the Macedonian Red Cross.
Macedonian Red Cross
The Macedonian Red Cross has continued with its established programme for refugees including the regular distributions for refugees, host families and social cases. The Society's information centre is open daily and referral activities have continued. Numerous interviews have been conducted with people that came to the centre seeking help or advice on various concerns.
Participating National Societies
American Red Cross: The Society has continued to run its health and social case programmes under which 12,400 families in the south-west of the country receive food assistance. A programme is also underway aimed at easing the short-term food insecurity of around 1,000 families in north-west FYROM. In November, the American Red Cross started a three week health survey of maternal nutrition in conjunction with the Macedonian Red Cross.
Finnish Red Cross: The Society has continued to support ICRC and bilateral projects in Kosovo and provided a service for the purchase of goods and implementation of financial transactions. Five Finnish Red Cross vehicles remain attached to the International Federation fleet and throughout the review period, a team of electricians handled lighting needs in the Stenkovec II refugee camp.
German Red Cross: The Society has continued its support to the 6,500 social case families in Kumanovo, Sveti Nikole and Radovich city, throughout October and November. In addition, the German Red Cross has provided daily food and assisted in the maintenance of accommodation facilities for 180 Roma refugees in Dare Bombol collective centre. One vehicle from the Society's fleet and a water station unit for disaster preparedness was handed over to the Macedonian Red Cross in November.
Spanish Red Cross: In October, the Society took over those food distributions to social case families which previously had been conducted by the French Red Cross. Throughout the review period, the Spanish Red Cross continued to renovate the living quarters in the Red Cross summer resort in Pretor, which will provide shelter and services for refugees, elderly people and social case children during the coming year.
Albania
Overview
The review period was marked by political turmoil, which culminated in a peaceful change of government followed by calls for fresh elections by the main opposition party. In the aftermath of the humanitarian emergency earlier in the year, tens of thousands of beneficiaries continued to received assistance from the international community, including the Red Cross Red Crescent, with further signs of stability in the overall situation with the full onset of winter.
Relief
The number of refugee beneficiaries fell from 4,537 in October to 3,676 in November; with a similar drop in host families from 545 to 446. However, these figures show an overall rise in comparison with September as UNHCR restarted the registration of new arrivals and the unregistered. Some 150 refugees accommodated in collective centres in Tirana were also supported by the Red Cross Red Crescent.
There was a marked reduction in socially vulnerable beneficiaries over the two month period, from 49,472 to 33,906 at the end of November. During the reporting period, the third and final distribution assisting social cases in 21 districts of the country took place covering, inter alia, Tirana, Lac, Kruje, Durres, Kavaje, Peqin, Elbasan, Librazhd, Fier, Tepelene, Permet, Gjirokaster, Sarande, Berat, Mallakaster, Kucove, Skrapar, Kukes and Has. Thirty two social institutions, including homes for the elderly, disabled and orphanages were assisted with food and non food items.
Meanwhile, the number of war affected beneficiaries in Kukes and Has rose from 4,500 to 4,818 over the reporting period, with all food and non food distributions completed. Overall, relief distributions during October and November included more than 96,000 food parcels, some 730 mt of wheat flour, 3,750 individual hygiene parcels and over 522,000 family hygiene parcels.
Health
Work has started to group the medicines held by the International Federation in Albania under the generic names, with exact expiration dates and a complete inventory. The target is to hold a list of drugs with a minimum of one year shelf life; any medicines falling outside this timeframe will be destroyed. The exercise is being conducted in close collaboration with the pharmacists from WHO and PSF.
Assessments were carried out during October in nine institutions (mainly orphanages and homes for the disabled), with distribution of clothes, shoes, bed linen, blankets, hygiene articles and basic drugs undertaken in five institutions. At the end of November, assessments had taken place in some 27 institutions.
Meanwhile, the Albanian Red Cross has begun implementation of two ECHO funded programmes: voluntary blood donation and first aid training. A first workshop on blood donation promotion took place in the second half of November, with 13 participants from seven districts. The main objective was a review of current progress and future plans. Blood donation days have already been staged in Shkodra, Vlore and Tirana, though without any great success and new strategies were discussed. Accordingly, information material will be developed and upgraded, media spots devised and direct contact with potential donors established, starting with schools, universities and military quarters. Fresh initiatives are also planned for first aid training and in all 36 branches two-day training courses for new volunteers, 10 in each branch, will begin. The International Federation's booklet 'First Aid in the Community' will be a basic tool for the courses.
The oral hygiene programme, supported by the Spanish Red Cross, is ongoing in 10 districts, targeting 6,000 children between the ages of seven and eight. Posters and leaflets have been produced and a 30 second TV spot will be shown four times a week.
From 10 to 11 November a mother and child health care workshop was held in Fier, supported by the Swiss Red Cross. The topics covered included care during pregnancy, child growth monitoring, nutrition and immunisation.
Logistics
The International Federation's logistics coordinator continues to be involved with the procurement of warehouses, offices and training centres for the Albanian Red Cross. One central warehouse, three regional warehouses and training centres and ten branch offices are to be purchased in different locations in Albania. The purchasing committee completed visits to Shkoder, Korce, Kukes, Has, Peshkopi and Lac during the review period.
In recent weeks, a number of procurements have been completed on behalf of Albanian Red Cross including a colour scanner, a digital camera and various types of vehicle spares and tyres. Three thousand table calendars were printed as part of an ECHO funded contract under the 'ECHO visibility' budget line.
Meanwhile, the volume of stock movements out of the Shkozet warehouse has increased dramatically due to the rise in the food parcel distribution programme and the distribution of other commodities to social cases. A large consignment of wheat flour was destroyed as it has been determined as unfit for human consumption by Albanian health authorities. The problem originated at source prior to its arrival in country. An exhaustive independent sanitary analysis was performed through the International Federation Regional Logistics Centre in Budapest and the findings were consistent with those of the Albanian authorities.
Mine Awareness
The first phase of the ICRC/Albanian Red Cross mine awareness programme (MAP) has been completed with 15 instructors from Kukes (5), Has (5), Tirana (2), Shkodra (1), Durres (1) and Vlora (1), participating in a three-day training workshop, which included a presentation on Red Cross Red Crescent principles and activities.
The second phase, the implementation of MAP, has already started in Kukes and Has. Presen-tations to different target groups, including school children and community leaders have taken place and the ICRC/Albanian Red Cross will also be covering mine awareness for the general public, adults and children.
Detention
During October, the ICRC distributed 994 blankets and 523 mattresses to detainees held in 13 of Albania's police commissariats. These items were donated by Red Cross Red Crescent Societies through the International Federation. Additional assistance included soap and chlorine solution and water and sanitation equipment to six commissariats with no water storage capacity and acute shortages.
Tracing
During the review period, the ICRC tracing office screened more than 25 outstanding visa requests pending with various embassies in Tirana. Staff contacted the applicants, the relatives abroad and the relevant officials to speed up the procedures. Particular attention was paid to very sensitive cases involving especially vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied children, elderly or medical cases.
Focus was maintained on very vulnerable cases in opening tracing requests (5 cases), perform-ing family reunions (1) or medical transfer from Kosovo, in close collaboration with relevant humanitarian organisations, most notably UNHCR, IOM, and the Italian Red Cross. The collection and distribution of Red Cross messages is still a main activity.
In conjunction with the Albanian Red Cross, the ICRC organised a tracing seminar which took place at the end of November in Tirana for the Red Cross volunteers who were involved in tracing during the emergency earlier in the year. The purpose of the seminar was to offer a short overall dissemination on Red Cross activities and a general course on tracing procedures.
Albanian Red Cross
An evaluation of a project aimed at assisting 20 street children has been carried out to determine the future direction of the programme. Meanwhile, a soup kitchen initiative to provide one free meal per day for 460 persons has been expanded to eight districts: Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, Fier, Lushnje, Elbasan, Vlore and Diber.
An innovative project to help disabled children is progressing well with the first and second phases - comprising staff training and the installation of materials - already completed and a start made on the third (treatment) stage.
A project to help people learn a new profession, supported by the Spanish Red Cross, has been expanded to three districts: Tirana, Berat and Korca, benefiting, to date, 360 persons. Good progress is also being made with a project for the rehabilitation of homes for the elderly, which provides new equipment for individual rooms, help in the kitchen, clothing, hygiene parcels and volunteer support.
In the first aid programme, refresher courses have been organised for experienced trainers and the participants are now setting up regional courses in three strategic districts, Fier (south), Shkoder (north) and Elbasan (central). A second training course is planned for new first aid trainers, consistent with a government initiative for standard nationwide first aid training for learner drivers.
A discussion on the prevention of drug use took place during the reporting period organised by the Tirana branch Red Cross youth. Twenty volunteer members - students of Tirana colleges -participated in this workshop and considered many aspects of drug use and abuse.
Participating National Societies
American Red Cross: The Society's one year food distribution programme for 30,000 elderly people in most districts of Albania, is ongoing.
Belgian Red Cross: The Society is rehabilitating the infectious disease building of the Durres hospital, and will also provide equipment for the recovery room inside the building. A psycho-social programme is also being run by the Society in Durres together with help in the management of the hospital's pharmacy and support for the Albanian Red Cross social programmes in Durres. Meanwhile Belgian Red Cross responsibility for the Katunduri ll camp, housing 18 beneficiaries, will end when the camp is closed and handed over to the relevant ministry.
French Red Cross: Rehabilitation of the psychiatric hospital in Elbasan, the largest facility of its kind in Albania, is ongoing.
German Red Cross: The Society is rehabilitating the Kukes hospital and is planning rehabilitation of a hospital in Korce.
Spanish Red Cross: Programmes include rehabilitation of homes for elderly in Fier and Tirana and supporting oral hygiene education for young people in 10 districts until the end of 1999
Swiss Red Cross: The programme of assistance to 3,600 socially-vulnerable in south Albania, mainly Fier was completed in November and the distribution of 75 mt of used clothes in south west Albania was scheduled for conclusion in December. The maternity hospital in Fier is earmarked for general support and a mother and child programme for Fier and Lushjnë has been finalised and some new training material developed.
From 1 January 2000, logistics cell contacts for outstanding relief needs are Goran Zuber, Federation -- tel: 4122 730 4423 (email: zuber@ifrc.org) and Christophe Wieser and Feena May, ICRC -- tel: 4122 730 2234 or 4122 730 2114; fax: 4122 730 2876 (email: fmay@icrc.org and/or cwieser@icrc.org)
For further information from the International Federation, please contact Mark Wilson for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia & Herzegovina -- tel: 4122 730 4439; email: wilson@ifrc.org and Penny Elghady for Albania and Macedonia -- tel: 4122 730 4319; email: elghady@ifrc.org
For further information from the ICRC, contact External Resources Department -- tel: 4122 734 6001 or Pierre Kraehenbuehl -- tel : 4122 730 2256; email: pkraehenbuehl.gva@icrc.org
Bjorn Eder
Director Europe Department
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Angelo Gnaedinger
Delegate General for Europe, Middle East, and North America
ICRC