CARE PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER IN KOSOVO
CARE assists both Serbs and Albanians in conflict-ridden Mitrovica

CONTACT: Claudia Chang or Karen Robbins, CARE USA, 404-681-4579, ext. 383/385

July 28, 1999 -- CARE is helping provide much-needed shelter in Kosovo’s northern Mitrovica region to returning refugees, internally displaced persons and residential populations, including both ethnic Serbs and Albanians. The city of Mitrovica has a population of about 115,000 people and is roughly divided along ethnic lines, with Serbs living north of the city’s main bridge and Albanians to the south. Despite high tensions and security concerns over the last several weeks, CARE has successfully provided emergency relief supplies, including tents and shelter materials, to both Serb and Albanian residents.

During the latest conflict in Kosovo, the city of Mitrovica and surrounding villages sustained significant damage, with many homes, shops and public buildings looted, partially burned or destroyed. Families whose homes have been completely destroyed are either camping out or staying with friends or relatives, often cramming 15 or more people into space of a small living room. CARE was the first non-governmental organization in Mitrovica to establish a shelter program, and to date has distributed about 1,000 tents for families and plans to distribute up to 10,000 additional tents. CARE has also provided shelter kits, including plastic sheeting and basic tools, to families working to rebuild their damaged homes. CARE will soon expand this program to help repair and weather-proof at least one room in each home for families to live in during the harsh winter months ahead.

“For the last week, we’ve had heavy rains and cooler weather, and many people are still without adequate shelter,” says Peter Robertson, CARE’s project manager in Mitrovica. “Their situation will only worsen as winter approaches unless we can help them repair their homes.”

CARE in Kosovo
CARE has worked in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia since 1993 assisting displaced Serb refugees from Bosnia, and in Kosovo since 1998 implementing shelter repair, food distribution and other relief projects. CARE managed eight refugee camps in Albania and Macedonia during the massive displacement of more than 1 million people from Kosovo. CARE was forced to suspend operations during this period, but re-entered Kosovo three days after the first NATO troops. CARE is now working in the Urosevac/Ferizaj, Kachanik, Lipljan and Mitrovica areas with a comprehensive emergency program including food distribution, shelter provision and repair, agricultural rehabilitation and mine-awareness training and demining.

About CARE
CARE is one of the world's largest international relief and development organizations, with projects in more than 60 countries. Last year, CARE programs worked with more than 35 million men, women and children in their fight to overcome poverty and build a better life.