UMCOR Kosovo Archives

Relief efforts for Kosovo's displaced

26 March 2004

UMCOR workers are describing the situation in Kosovo as "calm but tense." They have expressed concern about the outbreak of violence which left as many as 800 injured and killed 28 according to UN sources. UMCOR Kosovo responded to the crisis and immediately provided emergency assistance to those affected.

It is estimated more than 3,000 people, ethnic Serbs as well as other ethnic minorities, have become displaced and that 1,100 of these individuals are temporarily residing in camps in KFOR bases. In collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UMCOR Kosovo has distributed emergency non-food items to 253 Albanian-speaking Ashkali and 71 Kosovo Serb IDPs from Novo Selo Madjunsko/Maxhunaj in Vucitrn/Vushtrri Municipality who are currently accommodated on a KFOR base. This assistance consisted of 60 hygiene kits donated by UNHCR and humanitarian aid items provided by UMCOR.

UMCOR is also making every effort to ensure that beneficiaries who have gone back to pre-war communities in Kosovo since 2002 through UMCOR's minority return programs are located and receive appropriate assistance. UMCOR Serbia is monitoring the situation of beneficiaries who may now be living in displacement in Serbia and Montenegro.

UMCOR has worked in Kosovo since 1999. Early projects provided mainly emergency relief. Today UMCOR's programs aim to contribute to the peaceful and democratic development of the province.

In Mitrovica/Mitrovice, UMCOR has implemented shelter rehabilitation, agriculture and social and community development programs as part of a multi-sectoral approach providing integrated direct assistance. As a result, families within these communities have received assistance to meet needs related to housing, economic livelihood and psychosocial well-being.