ICRC activities in Kosovo - January to March 2002

The   ICRC   is recognized by the SRSG as the humanitarian organisation having the lead function in the efforts to shed light on the fate and whereabouts of approximately 3800 persons still missing in relation to the former armed conflict in Kosovo. The ICRC continues to submit the names and circumstances of disappearances to the concerned authorities. In order to coordinate the activities of the different authorities and humanitarian actors involved, the ICRC continues to chair the Working Group on Missing Persons which gathers regularly representatives of UNMIK Police/Missing Persons Unit (MPU), UNMIK Bureau for Detainees and Missing Persons, KFOR Main, OSCE, InternationaI Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP), and the Forensic Institute-Pristina. In close collaboration with the MPU, the ICRC collects Ante Mortem Data from the closest relatives of the missing persons for a possible identification of mortal remains through matching with the Post Mortem Data. In order to assist the families of missing persons, the ICRC continues to support three associations and to setup a referral system helping persons with psychological and/or social problems to get appropriate assistance.

Within its traditional activity of rest oring family links, the ICRC facilitates contacts between family members separated due to the conflict. Red Cross Messages (RCM) are exchanged on a regular basis. Following the request from the concerned families, four residents of Shtime/Stimlje Institute have been reunited with their families and one has been transferred to another Institution in Serbia proper. Kosovo Albanian prisoners detained in Serbia proper were able to receive visits from five family members thanks to regular transport possibilities organised by the ICRC across the administrative boundary.

On the other hand, the ICRC paid six visits to detainees in six places of detention under the responsibility of KFOR and UNMIK. Material and psychological conditions are assessed and improvements promoted where needed. Since the beginning of the year till mid-March, 11 Kosovo Albanian detainees released from prisons in Serbia were transported by the ICRC back to Kosovo.

At the end of February, the ICRC conducted a training workshop at the Institute of Public Health (IPH) for the staff who will be in charge of gathering data on incidents from mines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO). The ICRC had the lead role for collecting data on mine/UXO incidents for the last three years. It is now transferring this responsibility to the IPH as part of its willingness and commitment to build capacities within Kosovo institutions. Having been the lead agency for implementing a victim surveillance system, the ICRC will continue to provide support, assistance and advice to the IPH in order to ensure that the data gathering syste m continues to function correctly. Moreover, the ICRC has continued to collect information and requests for Mine/UXO clearance in all known affected villages. Since the beginning of 2002, 103 village have been visited.

Several meetings were held with Mine Awareness volunteers of the Red Cross of Kosova and municipal meetings on a monthly basis have continued, as they are essential to obtain a clear picture of the Mine/UXO threats in communities and to plan future action.

In addition to its own programmes, the ICRC is actively involved in the " Normal Life Project " initiated by the United Nations Mine Awareness Action Center (UNMACC). This year, 77 villages have been visited in the frame of this programme.

In order to make its mandate, activities and working principles better known and understood, the ICRC regularly conducts presentation sessions of its work and mandate to different contingents of the KFOR; during the last three months, the ICRC has carried out such presentations to 162 officers of the Finnish, the French, the Spanish and the Italian contingents. Presentations of its work have also been done to four social workers of the UNMIK Penal Management.

The ICRC    has just ended a two and half year project to support the water laboratory in the Institute of Public Health to enable them to carry out regional testing of water quality in Kosovo. The Laboratory is now fully functional. The IPH was supplied with equipment and testing material for water with the full range of pesticides and training was given to the staff. The final training was held in Sofia (Bulgaria) and in IPH Pristina in January 2002. The cost of this project which included also a mobile laboratory approximates 300'000 Euros.

The American Red Cross and the ICRC have completed recently the construction of a reservoir in Perlepnica/Prilepnica-Gjilan/Gnjilane area. The work has started in 2000 and it is in function since February. The reservoir has a capacity of 1000 m3 which will increase the volume of available water in Gjilan/Gnjilane area. Its value is 220'000 Euros.

Since three years, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is implementing the psycho-social programme (PSP) to support vulnerable people affected by the conflict. During the last two months, 4'164 persons have benefited from this program, out of which 56% were women. A group of 45 women have attended a sewing course in Gjakova/Djakovica and Lipjan/Lipljane. An exhibition of handwork and art crafts has been organized by wom en in Podujeva/Podujevo.

With the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies , the Red Cross  of Kosova is taking up the challenge to build its capacity in activties involving the youth and targeting the youth.

Two leadership training sessions were organized in Gjakova/Djakovica late December 2001 and continued in January 2002. They gathered around 48 youth volunteers from seven different local branches.

Within the Children Affected by Armed Conflict (CABAC) programme run by the Danish Red Cross , the module of child rights was added to the training of educators and teachers. The Professional Centre for Human Rights and Judicial Initiative based in Pristina contributed with its experience and competence to enhance the knowledge of teachers from schools attached to Skënderaj/Srbica, Vushtrri/Vucitrn and Mitrovica municipalities. The overall aim remains to wor k towards the establishment of a tolerant society, facilitate interrelations between teachers and parents, initiate free activities for pupils to express themselves and encourage teachers to act as model and reference for children.

The   President of the Italian Red Cross (IRC) visited Kosovo on February 27 and inaugurated the Peja/Pec outpatient clinic, marking the near completion of the IRC's activities in Kosovo. The Italian Red Cross has started its activities in Kosovo in 1999 with the project of developing and rehabilitating a clinic within the Peja/Pec Regional Hospital, which became functional in September 2000. Then it continued by refurbishing a 1'000 m2 building for specialized medical ambulatory services and provided the necessary equipment.

Parallel to its involvement in Peja/Pec Hospital, the Italian Red Cross has provided logistical means to the WHO immunization program in the region. It has supplied furniture for the Ambulanta in Poqestë/Poceste village, donated an ambulance for the Ambulanta in Istog. Hygiene kits have also been given to Peja/Pec and Dubrava prisons, along with different equipment to the Juvenile Parish Center in Peja/Pec. Non-food items have been donated to Peja/Pec and Gorazhdevc/Gorazdevac vulnerable people. The total budget of all Italian Red Cross projects in Kosovo amounts to 1'750'000 Euros.

Since August 2001, the Belgian Red Cross (BRC) has been successfully implementing a Maternal Child Health Care (MCH) project in the Municipality of Suharekë/Suva Reka. In each family Health Centre in rural areas, at least one trained nurse is in charge of the MCH project. As part of the ongoing training and follow-up, the Belgian Red Cross has initiated a series of meetings and training for mothers in family Health Centres. Moreover, the BRC is providing Health Centres with necessary hygienic materials.

On the other hand, in Prizren, the Belgian Red Cross is continuing to administer the Prizren Family Medical Training Centre.

Since August 2001, the Spanish Red Cross (SRC) is implementing income generating projects in the area of Peja/Pec, Podujeva/Podujevo, Suhareka/Suva Reka and Prizren. 300 families have been assisted either by receiving cows, tractors, mechanical tools or by having their stables rehabilitated.

The tractors repair project initiated by the SRC in the Municipality of Malishevë/Malisevo has ended in February. A total of 511 tractors had been repaired. More than 1'000 tractors have previously been repaired in Suharekë/Suva Reka, within an ICRC delegated project.

The Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) has terminated its activities in Kosovo on February 22. The Turkish Red Crescent was offering free medical consultations and medicines through its mobile clinic in Prizren. An average of 750 patients were seen each month. On the other hand, over 218'000 beneficiaries received food and nonfood items donated by the Turkish Red Crescent and distributed in cooperation with the Red Cross of Kosova.