the kosovo crisis
CARE Assesses Refugee Needs in Five Regions Bordering Kosovo
Almost Half a Million Expected at Borders
Contact: Press Office at 404/681-2552
Claudia Chang, ext. 383; home: 404/873-6193
Rita Stone Smith, ext. 250; home: 770/719-3282
Kathy Doherty, ext. 203, home: 404/377-4781
Atlanta, March 30, 1999 - CARE has assessment teams in five areas bordering Kosovo. This week, CARE will begin an assessment in Albania, where almost 200,000 refugees are expected within days. Refugees are fleeing to Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additional movements may increase the flow of people to as high as 500,000.
CARE USA's Bob Macpherson, assistant director of CARE's Emergency Group, will lead an assessment team, including staff members from CARE Canada and CARE Germany. "We know the key needs are likely to be shelter, transportation and health," Macpherson says.
| Present Numbers | Anticipated Refugees | Totals | |
| Albania | 20,000 | +150,000 | 170,000 |
| Macedonia | 20,000 | +100,000 | 120,000 |
| Montenegro | 25,000 | + 65,000 | 90,000 |
| Bosnia | 10,000 | + 10,000 | 20,000 |
| Serbia | 30,000 | +30,000 | 60,000 |
| 460,000 |
*Source: UNHCR
CARE International Activities: Albania. Macpherson will lead the assessment team arriving this week in Tirana, Albania. Its focus is to conduct a rapid assessment and begin assisting with the coordinated relief effort. Under a bilateral agreement, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) was scheduled to begin lifting 42 metric tons of tents and blankets aboard a cargo aircraft to Tirana.
Macedonia. CARE Australia and CARE Osterreich will send an eight-person assessment team, led by Jo Hutton of CARE Yugoslavia. CARE has established an operational base, including formal refugee registration and distribution systems in Macedonia. However, CARE's programming could increase to meet additional needs for food packs, non-food items such as hygiene packs, clothes, baby packs, blankets and mattresses.
Serbia and Montenegro. CARE Australia has terminated all activities inside the province of Kosovo. CARE is still supplying limited amounts of winter heating fuel and fresh food to refugees and displaced families throughout the remainder of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). The ability to respond has been severely diminished by the fighting and the lack of fuel for trucks.
Bosnia and Herzegovina. CARE Canada continues to assess the situation and has now re-opened its office in Banja Luka.
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