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Shelter Coordination Meeting |
Shelter Coordination Meeting
Friday, 17th August 2001
Chaired by OCHA/UNHCR
In attendance were:
Mr. C. Sanders - UNHCR
Mr. A. Mulas - UNHCR
Ms. D. Marijanovic-Prolic - UNHCR
Mr. T. Trombev - Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications
Ms. B. Crvenkovska - Ass. to Mr. Trombev
Mr. Z. Bozinovski - IEES Skopje
Mr. P. Hebert - OCHA Skopje
Ms. S. Pesic - OCHA Skopje
Mr. M. Hague - EU Delegation
Mr. A. Talmon-IAimee - IMG
Mr. K. Carew - U.S. Embassy/PRM Mr. B. Ruskin - USAID
Mr. J. Snyder - OFDA/USAID
Objectives of the meeting:
- To discuss available funding from international organisations
and bilaterals for short-term reconstruction assistance, based on the
initial damage assessment in areas of immediate access;
- To define strategy for rapid action, in co-operation
with the Government;
- To define responsibilities to be assumed by different
actors and identify NGOs that could take-over the activities;
- To set modalities and schedule of action.
Introductory remarks:
Mr. Hebert of OCHA explained that the aim
of the meeting was to define concrete points and schedule of action. Mr
Tome Trombev, who joined the sectoral co-ordination meeting from
the recently established Governments Team of Experts, indicated
that international communitys interest to work more closely with
the Government was welcomed.
Status of international short-term funding for rapid response to initial
needs:
Mr. Hague reported that the EU was finalising
details of the Rapid Village Assessment (RVA). It was hoped that access
to the v. of Arachinovo, Lopate and Opaje would be possible from the beginning
of next week. IMG had contracted MoviMondo to start emergency reconstruction.
It was hoped to begin damage assessments on Monday, 20 Aug. 2001. In order
to start delivering ad-hoc assistance, it was crucial to define details
of the assessment teams.
Strategy for rapid action:
Mr. Trombev informed that the fYROM Government,
i.e. the Ministry of Transport and Communications, had already developed
a Draft Strategy for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of the Damaged
Facilities and Roads in the Crisis Areas as well as made a model damage
assessment of the v. of Lopate, which he suggested could be covered first.
He distributed copies of the documents and invited those present to take
active part in their finalisation.
Mr. Trombev informed that
the Crisis Management Body did not grant permission to access v. of Lopate,
Opaje and Arachinovo on Monday, 20 Aug. 2001 due to security reasons.
He suggested those present to meet on Monday, 20 Aug. 2001 and try to
obtain permission for the assessment to begin the following day.
Responsibilities to be assumed by different actors:
Mr. Trombev suggested 3-party damage assessment
teams consisting of 3 members each from the intl organisations,
the local self-government units and the Government be formed. Mr. Sanders
of UNHCR commented that 9-member-teams would be too large. He suggested
these to consist of 4 members - 2 international, 1 Government and 1 local
self-government. The Government members would come from the Institute
for Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IEES). Intl organisations
members would be selected from NGOs with appropriate expertise.
Modalities and schedule of action:
The estimate was made that rapid village assessment (RVA) could be completed
in 3-4 days, i.e. 1 week.
A sufficient number of teams could be drawn depending
on the accessibility to the crisis areas. NGOs would be invited to express
interest to take part in the RVA in the Sectoral Co-ordination Shelter
Meeting which was to follow this meeting. The US Government, which already
has some funds that could be used for the purpose and USAID/OFDA indicated
they were planning to support this process. IEES reported they already
had staff members assigned and reserved.
In order to apply the same RVA standards, UNHCR proposed
a training session for the potential team members be held on Monday, 20
Aug. 2001 at 10:00h. With regard to the methodology to be used, it was
generally agreed that RVA need not go into too much detail and obtain
precise figures, but will allow rough cost estimates be made. The several
different forms in circulation would be further reviewed and explained
during the training session. Mr. Mulas of UNHCR asked MCIC to take part
in preparing the Monday training session. He also agreed to be the focal
point for the organisation of the NGO training session.
Summary of Agreed Action points:
- 4-member RVA teams will be
formed, consisting of 2 international, 1 Government and 1 local self-government
representative. Intl members will be pooled from the NGOs with
expertise and would be invited at the Shelter Meeting
- A training session for the
potential RVA team members will be held at 10:00h on Monday, 20 August
2001, at UNHCR. Mr. Agostino Mulas of UNHCR is focal point for organisation
of the training.
- A preparatory meeting of the
training organisers will be held at 09:00h, on Monday, 20 August 2001,
at the Ministry for Transport and Communications.
- The participants in the Sub-Meeting
are to meet again at 12:00 on Monday, 20 August 2001, at the office
of the Ministry for Transport and Communications.
Spesic/OCHA/Skopje
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