Albania: Emergency Management Group Situation Report - 12 Jul 1999

A. OVERVIEW
1) Road access, between Rreshen and Kukes, temporarily closed due to erosion, has been restored.

2) Since 15 June, 380,326 refugees have returned to Kosova from Albania spontaneously and in organized repatriation plans. The care of refugees who remain in Albania, and the resolution of other issues related to the emergency continue to require concentrated, urgent attention. These include:

• organized transportation for refugees who want to return home soon;
• repatriation assistance to extremely vulnerable individuals (EVIs), coordinated with transport providers, transit facilities (in Albania) and reception centers (in Kosova);
• assistance in shelter and provision of basic needs to refugees seeking to stay in Albania several months or through the winter;
• security of refugees and of assets installed for the emergency;
• camp closure and transfer of assets;
• rehabilitation of impacted sites and structures (socio-economic as well as physical).

The dilution of refugees in any one location in Albania makes aspects of the above more challenging and in certain instances requires new strategies, for example in the provision of services, security and design of public information campaigns. Coordinated action, advance notification and effective public information are fundamental.

B. REFUGEE STATISTICS

Total influx of refugees as of 17 June: 479,223

Number of refugees leaving Albania on:

Total number of refugees who have left since 15 June:380,236

Source: Ministry of Local Government

Planned movement into Kosovo by EMG (date of departure from city):

Refugees present in Camps and Collective Centres on 5 July: 32,353

C. REPATRIATION

By 9 July, 84.5% of the original refugee population in the neighbouring countries had returned to Kosova, according to NATO.

The organized return plan in Albania has been in place since 1 July and has moved refugees throughout the country by bus, rail, helicopter and airplane. The return plan continues, but has spare capacity as the number of people seeking assistance has started to decline in the past several days. For example, on 10 July, in Elbasan only 42 required transportation even though a train for 400 was available. In previous weeks, 2 to 300 refugees arrived for each train from Elbasan. Due to the decline in the perceived requirement for large scale organised transport back to Kosova, a new method of support is being examined and will be proposed after consultation with GoA, AFOR, and UNHCR.

The situation in Mitrovica is still not stable. Neither KFOR nor UNHCR have recommended that refugees return to that area. Several agencies have reported that refugees have ‘visited’ Mitrovica and have returned to Albania with the intention of not repatriating in near future.

D. SECURITY

International security organizations have, in many regions, moved to an advance state of alert to counter direct threats to camps, collective centers, aid workers and their own personnel. The Gojan Way Station was evacuated on July 11 under emergency conditions due to an overwhelming security threat. Several aid workers have received extortion threats during the past week. Any threats should be taken extremely seriously and reported immediately to the EMG.

Security in Shkoder and Mjeda is of concern, particularly as the local police have limited resources. On July 9, the Austrian Army returned fire from unknown assailants, injuring two. Investigation later revealed that in an armed dispute between local parties, one party fired in the direction of the camp. The Austrian Camp in Shkoder remains open with 1,618 residents, but is heavily protected by the Austrian Army. Closure will most likely occur within the week. Also on July 9, three vehicles and the goods they contained were stolen from the Caritas Camp at Mjeda.

Agencies are requested to report concerns directly to the EMG Security Section between 0900 and 1800 hours daily on (042)56562/3 or (038)202-3994, or at any time for emergencies.

E. WINTERIZATION

The Winterization Cell, with the Ministry of Local Government and UNHCR, identified thirty-four priority collective centres ready for winter accommodation of a residual caseload. These sites are concentrated in the Durres and Tirana prefectures, where UNHCR will continue to maintain offices (as well as a field office in Kukes). These sites, listed in the attached table, have a minimum capacity of approximately 18,000. Sites for winter accommodations have also been identified in other prefectures. Sites in Durres and Tirana, however, were prioritized in order to increase security and efficiency of support services.

The Winterization Cell is also preparing guidelines for donors, NGOs and local authorities that will assist refugees staying with host families over the winter. Guidelines will address continued cash assistance supported by UNHCR and Swiss Disaster Relief as well as food and goods in kind from NGOs.

F. REHABILITATION

UNHCR, ECHO, NATO and the Ministry of Local Government continue to collaborate with the EMG, and to provide staff and technical support for rehabilitation activities. Additionally, UNDP and the Ministry of Economic Trade and Cooperation have added their support to the EMG with assistance on rehabilitation issues. In collaboration and consultation with local authorities, donors and development agencies, the rehabilitation cell has begun to gather a list of project needs and profiles, and will prioritize the projects.

G. INFORMATION

A two-fold gap in public information was identified at the end of last week. First, some refugees who sought repatriation did not know details of the organized plan nor where to seek more information. Second, a portion of the caseload seemed unaware of the availability of organized, free transportation. These refugees do not seem to have access to or seek mass media and are believed to reside primarily in host family accommodations. Aiming to maximize the use of regular transport, the EMG and UNHCR prepared and distributed in Durres, Elbasan, Fier and Tirana a flier and poster stating the availability of transportation and listing regular train departure times.

H. MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Compiled by EMG Information Cell - Council of Ministers - Tirana, Albania

Tel. +355-42-56597, 56361, 56362, Fax +355-42-56568

For further details please contact:
	EMG Management	Edmond Haxhinasto	+355-38-202-7733
	Repatriation	Artan Mile	+355-38-202-7820
	Logistics	Dave Tyler	+355-38-202-7820
	Food	Jerry Bailey	+355-38-202-7947
	Health	Rukie Kondi	+355-42-281-35
	Winterization	Sarem Kalali Hossein	+355-38-202-9137
	Security	Ian Gennery	+355-38-202-3994
	Information Cell	Amina Tirana	+355-38-202-9133
	Humanitarian Information	Eleanor Monbiot	+355-38-202-9245