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MCIC
Situation report Macedonia no. 6/2001 |
16 July - 22 July 2001
Skopje, 23rd of July 2001
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
Displaced persons
The number of internally displaced persons (IDP)
decreases. According to the Macedonian Red
Cross, the number of IDPs totals at 31,673, out of which 1,297 are settled
in the collective centres.
A new collective centre has been opened in Dolno
Konjare, Kumanovo, where 72 persons have been settled. In the Home for
Elder, 13 persons have been settled.
Refugees return from Kosovo to Macedonia. The number
of refugees returning from Kosovo increases. Each day, nearly 1,000 refugees
(ethnic Albanians) return to Macedonia.
Human life impact
Around 5,000 inhabitants in the Municipality of
Sipkovica, Tetovo, have been cut off for several months, without regular
supply. The village of Sipkovica itself is probably a settlement of the
so-called NLA.
Damages caused
The Coordination Body for Crisis Management adopted
the information of the authorized institutions for normalization of the
situation in Aracinovo. Out of 1,000 houses and 655 water supply facilities
i.e. wells checked, 269 can be used normally, 124 are not safe for normal
life and 41 houses were damaged.
At present, there are no official reports of the
Coordination Body at the Macedonian Government about the damage evaluation
from the conflicts in Aracinovo.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Food
Aid for IDPs. The
Red Cross of the city of Skopje started distribution of humanitarian aid
for IDPs in the area of Skopska Crna Gora, Tetovo and Kumanovo. The aid
was distributed in Momin Potok 2 and "Nikola Vapcarov" primary
school.
Health
The International Committee of the Red Cross delivered medicines in the
Lipkovo area, where the access is difficult.
The Government Decision for free medicines for
IDPs is still not implemented.
Shelters
A new collective centre has been opened in Dolno
Konjare, Kumanovo, where 72 persons have been settled. In the Home for
Elder, 13 persons have been settled.
Water supply and sanitation
In Tetovo there is a water shortage because of
system damages and the summer, which caused eight hour water reductions
daily.
The construction of the pump station for spare
water supply of the Medical Centre in Kumanovo started. The object should
be completed next week.
Schools and education
There are no activities in this sector so far.
Humanitarian demining
There are no such activities in this period.
Protection and human rights
On MCIC initiative, an "Informative and Legal Support
for the Internally Displaced Persons" brochure is being prepared.
MCIC succeeded to locate three persons, ethnic Macedonians, missing about
twenty days in the area of Radusa.
Psychosocial activities
Eight women NGOs started psychosocial activities
for IDPs.
Post crisis rehabilitation
At the present, the biggest problem in Aracinovo
is water and electricity. Examinations have
shown that in the village there is shortage of pure drinking water, and
there is no technical water as well. One of the reasons for this is the
shortage of electricity. For partial water supply of the inhabitants,
after their return to the village, water from cisterns will be provided.
HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION
Financing
ECHO funds for reconstruction.
EU announced aid worth of 2.5 million Euros for reconstruction of the
destroyed facilities in the crisis areas.
Coordination
First meeting of NGO humanitarian coordination.
In order to improve the organization and coordination of humanitarian
activities on local level, on 18th of July 2001, NGO humanitarian coordination
has been established by 12 NGOs: El Hilal, Klasje na dobrinata, Mesecina,
OOZM, SOZM, SAZM, ROZM "Daja", DROM, Milosrdie, Megasi and MCIC.
These organizations have certain target group or target area. MCIC will
provide the logistic support of the NGO humanitarian coordination. The
meetings will be held once a week. NGO humanitarian coordination on the
meetings of National Humanitarian Coordination (NHC) will be repreented
by MCIC and El Hilal, and a third representative relevant to the meeting's
issue, if needed.
Second meeting of the National Humanitarian Coordination.
On 19th of July 2001, the National Humanitarian Coordination body held
its second meeting, where representatives from President's Cabinet, Ministry
of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
Defence, international governmental organizations (UNHCR, UNICEF etc.),
international nongovernmental organizations, Red Cross and domestic nongovernmental
organizations (MCIC and El Hilal) took part. The participants submitted
activity reports and addressed their problems.
Further activities should be undertaken for the
following issues: return of IDPs' confidence in the Government; prepare
strategy and plan in case of new displacements of persons; improving coordination
through connection of the different coordination mechanisms between international
organizations, governmental institutions and domestic NGOs; defining conflict
areas access procedure; establishing mechanism for exemption of mobilization
of part of employees in the humanitarian organizations conducting important
tasks for the humanitarian operations; to consider possibilities of Value
Added Tax (VAT) and Financial Transaction Tax exemption of domestic NGOs
for purchases in the country.
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