the kosovo crisis

CARE UPDATE:
News from Albania and Macedonia

April 7, 1999

CONTACT: Atlanta Press Office
Kathy Doherty/Rita Stone-Smith 404-681-2552, ext 203/250
Kathy at home: 404-377-4781 Mobile: 404-202-9293
Rita at home: 770-719-3282 Mobile: 770-596-1294
In Albania: satphone Friday, 011-00870 76 29 55

In Albania: (see map)

CARE has obtained warehouse space and is delivering commodities to Kosovar refugees.

• Elbasani and Lezha - distributed six metric tons of rice and 3,500 blankets.
• Tirana - distributed three metric tons of rice and 1,000 blankets.
• Kukes - distributed 4,500 blankets.
• Durres - CARE is setting up a refugee camp to house 15,000 refugees.

In Macedonia: (see map)

Arriving mostly by foot, CARE reports that some refugees carry small bundles of clothes and food, but many possess only the clothing on their backs.

• Cegvane - CARE is conducting an assessment of this refugee settlement located between Tetovo and Gostivar.
• Skopje, Tetovo and Kumanovo - CARE is targeting approximately 2,000 refugee households (the average family size is six,) living around these three towns. CARE will provide food, blankets and mattresses to refugees at collective centers and shelters, as well as to people living with host families.

CARE Estimates:

• The number of refugees fleeing from Kosovo has risen to over 620,000.
• Macedonia has been flooded with more than 136,000 refugees.
• 293,000 persons have sought sanctuary in Albania.