KOSOVO TRIP REPORT

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KOSOVO TRIPREPORT

• January 31st February 1st, 07

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IFRC - Current situation in Kosovo

• Political situation fully dominated by the
  process to determine the final status
• No progress in improving the critical situation
  in economic, health, social welfare, education
  etc. sectors
• Increasing need for Red Cross assistance to the
  most vulnerable groups
• High rate of unemployment (over 50), lowest
  income per capita in the region (1.250 EUR/year)

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Current situation in Kosovo

• Large problem with corruption in all segments of
  life
• Week and ineffective law enforcement
• Health system not able to cover the needs
• weak management
• under investment in structure/staff
• poor access to health care outside Pristina
• only basic medicines provided for free
• hospital expenses high, covered by relatives
  living abroad or loans from banks

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ICRC

• no general proceeding/organization dealing with
  forced returnees
• no organized reception/transfer to places of
  origin
• no reconstruction programme for houses (UNHCRs
  only for voluntary returnees)
• lack of ID
• security problems as for local population

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Potential crisis

• massive return
• - at least 100.000 living abroad (non
• Albanians), total 300-400.000
• municipalities not able to address the needs
• Collapse of the system!!!

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UNHCR MISSION

• HQ in Pristina and 5 Field Offices
• More policy making work
• capacity building
• helping in civil registration and issuance
• of documents
• Not promoting but facilitating return

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• Core activities
• - monitoring return
• - supporting inter ethnic dialogue
• - free legal aid
• - shelter assistance (repairing houses)
• Cooperation
• - lack of response from local authorities
• to support the needs of returnees

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National Societies presentations

• Germany
• Italy
• Switzerland
• Norway
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Serbia

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Meeting with RC Kosova

• Not recognized National Society
• - 36 professionals, 5.000 volunteers
• - lack of vehicles, problems with custom
• - Law on Red Cross soon to be passed
• Cooperating with all major partners,
• bilateral cooperation with many RCs
• Aid distribution (food and non-food items),
• psycho-social support
• Needs in education, health care system
• access, housing

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FIELD VISITS

• PECH
• - visit to two families
• - returned from Germany after more
• than 15 years
• - problems in housing, finding job,
• health problems, language barriers,
• education

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• KOSOVSKA MITROVICA
• - Town split into South Mitrovica
• (Albanian) and North Mitrovica (Serbian)
• - Tensions present on daily bases
• - Visit to Collective Centre for Returnees
• (former military barracks)
• - Same problems as in Pech

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Serbian Red Cross Kosovo and Metohija
Provintial Organization

• covering 28 branches, not having access to two
• mainly distributing humanitarian aid (food and
  non-food items)
• health care
• cooperation with all major international
  partners
• lack of office space (now renting), vehicles,
  good in Human Resources due to large number of
  volunteers

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APPRECHIATE YOUR TIME