New York, NY, February 23, 2001 -
Doctors of the World-USA, with its eight years of experience in Serb, Roma,
and Albanian areas of Kosovo, expresses great concern about increased tensions
in the province, and in particular, about the terrorist attack in Podujevo
on Friday, February 16. The bomb, planted on the road to the town
of Podujevo and targeting a bus of Serbs, exacerbated the fragile political
situation in the province.
Doctors of the World-USA has implemented
several different public health development projects in the region, and
continues to focus on lessening the incidence of tuberculosis and reducing
maternal and infant health mortality and morbidity. Doctors of the
World also works in minority areas in close proximity to the bombing, as
part of its de-institutionalization of Kosovar Children Project. This
project targets the primarily minority population of children at the Shtime
closed institution, and endeavors to transfer them to transitional houses,
one in the minority municipality of Gracanica, and the other in the Albanian
area of Shtime. The children will be provided with community and
family based rehabilitation.
As the Shtime Institution is comprised of an ethnically mixed population, Doctors of the World is intimately familiar with the importance and the delicateness of maintaining communication and working relationships between ethnic groups. Doctors of the World expresses its sincere hope that violence will cease, enabling the development of civil society, an effective public health structure, and eventually, lasting peace.
Contact:
Robert Kushen, Esq.
Executive Director
Doctors of the World
Phone: 212-226-9890
Fax: 212-226-7026
Email: kushenr@dowusa.org