Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Aid for returnees

Many of those who left their homes during last year's conflict have now started to resettle in their villages. To facilitate their return, the ICRC is distributing enough relief supplies to last them for one month. On 26 April food parcels and wheat flour were handed out to returnees in Opae, in the Lipkovo area. More distributions will be carried out in the Skopska Crna Gora region, notably in Alasevce and the remote village of Lukare Mala.

Now that the humanitarian emergency is over and living conditions are improving, the ICRC can rapidly decrease its assistance. The aid being provided is part of a last series of distributions for the returnees in their villages, after which these people will be removed from the lists of internally displaced persons.

" It is very positive to see displaced people returning home " , said François Stamm, head of the ICRC delegation in Skopje. " Most of those now receiving assistance have spent several months in collective accommodation and can't bring any food supplies with them. The food we are handing out is meant to help them settle down and resume their former activities. "

During the six-month conflict the ICRC provided relief supplies for more than 120,000 displaced persons and local residents, mainly on a monthly basis.