UMCOR Kosovo Archives

UMCOR focuses activity on Eastern Kosovo

06 April 2004

In response to the humanitarian situation in Kosovo following recent violence, UMCOR is cooperating with both UNHCR and the Serbian Red Cross to identify IDPs and villages needing assistance and to facilitate the distribution of emergency items to the displaced.

UMCOR is focusing activity on Eastern Kosovo, particularly Gjilan/Gnjilane and Mitrovica/Mitrovicë Municipalities, where we have operated for several years now. Kelly Miles, Head of Office for UMCOR Kosovo, hopes to utilize UMCOR's previous experience and build on existing rapport with local authorities and populations.

IDPs from Gjilan/Gnjilane are currently residing in Silovo/Shillove having fled the violence. According to the UNHCR, 46 houses in the town have been damaged or destroyed. UMCOR staff is providing these IDPs with information on the state of affairs in their former community as well as facilitating accompanied community and property visits to enable beneficiaries to view their houses, retrieve possessions and documents and gain a first-hand impression of the situation.

437 people have been displaced from Svinjare/Frasheri I Madh village in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë Municipality and 114 houses damaged or destroyed, according to the UNHCR. The displaced are mostly living in temporary accommodation in North Mitrovica/Mitrovicë. UMCOR is assisting the IDPs as well as carrying out damage assessments. As soon as the situation allows, UMCOR staff plan to facilitate community and property visits for those displaced from the village.

UMCOR continues to assist Albanian-speaking Ashkali IDPs from Novo Selo Madjunsko/Maxhunaj in Vucitrn/Vushtrri Municipality and is facilitating dialogue between the IDPs and local authorities regarding return issues as well as aiming to rebuild relationships and keep channels of communication open.

Ms Miles pointed out the need to employ a proactive approach to addressing the needs of IDPs in the coming months. Through a series of facilitated dialogues, in both Kosovo and Serbia, UMCOR will encourage IDPs to share initial information and views on return, identify common interests and needs with their communities of origin, engage with return structures and actors, develop consolidated return plans, and mobilize accountable leadership structures to present these plans in appropriate forums.