A: This morning we were able to go to the border, which is about 30 minutes from Skopia where we are located. We were at one border crossing where we stood for about 30 minutes and watched a number of refugees coming across. They were coming both on foot and by car. The ones on foot seemed to be very ill clothed. A lot of them did not have winter coats and it was quite cold and windy. Some of them did not have adequate shoes either. They looked like they had been walking a long time. They had small bags of possessions with them, a few of them. Some had nothing at all. Once they crossed the border, there were various agencies there to provide assistance. Many of the refugees looked very confused and disoriented. A number had small children which were crying, obviously very traumatized and in immediate need of assistance.

Q:What is CARE doing in Macedonia?

A: Right now the CARE presence in Macedonia is primarily an assessment team. We arrived here over the weekend and what we are doing [now] is we are making some trips to the border. We are going to the existing refugee collective centers. And we are working to assess the need. Right now it appears that the numbers of refugees coming into Macedonia are increasing and that soon it will exceed the existing capacity to respond to the refugees. So CARE is looking at the development of programs to provide some food and non-food emergency assistance packages, starting as soon as possible.

Q: What is CARE doing in Yugoslavia?

A: In Yugoslavia, CARE has maintained an operational presence. It is still supporting some refugee centers in Yugoslavia. It has suspended its Kosovo programming. Although CARE intends to resume programming as soon as it's safe to do so. Programming in Kosovo included some winterisation programs, some shelter programs, helping families build their homes and also a mobile medical clinic to provide medical assistance to both Serbians and Albanians in the province.

Q: How has the experience affected you personally?

A: On a personal level, the experience has been quite an emotional one, standing at the border watching refugees come across with little or no belongings. It was quite disturbing. They seem to be looking for assistance - any assistance. They are going to need food, shelter and clothing, and they really have nothing at this point. Knowing that CARE and other organizations like CARE are working together to try and provide assistance for them is quite a rewarding feeling to be a part of that.

Q: What is CARE's immediate goal?

A: CARE is going to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those who have been displaced from Kosovo, who've been forced from their homes. And we are going to continue assessing the need and developing programs in Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania to assist those most in need.

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