Coordination record no. 2

NATIONAL HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION (NHC) RECORD

2nd Coordination meeting, 19th of July 2001, Skopje

Present

• Governmental institutions: Boge Cadinoski, Blagica Stojanova, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy; Flora Latifi, President's Cabinet; Petar Dimovski, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Saso Kuzmanovski, Ministry of Defense;
• UN agencies: Amin Avad, UNHCR; Elke Wisch, Stiv Gros, UNICEF; Vladimir Kuculovski, UNDP;
• Red Cross and Red Crescent: Philippe Gaillard, Louise Abbott, ICRC; Ljupka Petrovska, Macedonian Red Cross;
• Foreign governmental and intergovernmental institutions: Vulnet Dulatahi, US Embassy; Swe MacIntyre, USAID/OFDA; Aldo Biondi, ECHO;
• International nongovernmental organizations: Lrg Malany, International NGO Council; Tome Kigravzoski, SNI;
• Domestic nongovernmental organizations: Abdurauf Prusi, El Hilal; Saso Klekovski, Emina Nuredinoska, MCIC;
• Absent
  • Governmental institutions: Coordination Body for Crisis Management;
    
  • UN agencies: WFD; WHO; FAO;
    
  • Foreign governmental and intergovernmental institutions: SDR; PRM Office.

Boge Cadinovski, Head of the department for refugees, displaced persons and humanitarian aid at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy initiated the meeting and was the presiding.

Record person: Emina Nuredinoska

 

AGENDA

1. Information part - Organizations' reports
2. Problems and issues to be considered and solved

Boge Cadinovski, Head of the department for refugees, displaced persons and humanitarian aid at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy opened the 2nd Coordination meeting of the National Humanitarian Coordination and explained its objectives.

Ad.1.

The organizations' representatives submitted short written or oral reports for their activities.
Amin Avad, Chief of UNHCR mission in Macedonia informed that UNHCR maintains regular interagency and sectoral meetings (present sectors are: food, water supply and sanitation, shelters, health care, and logistics).

Saso Klekovski, MCIC, informed that NGO Coordination of 12 NGO's has been established: El hilal, Natyra, Klasje na dobrinata, Mesecina, OOZM, SOZM, SAZM, ROZM "Daja", DROM, Milosrdie, Megasi, MCIC. These organizations have certain target group or target area. The logistic support for the local NGO Coordination will be provided by MCIC. The meetings will be held once a week (every Wednesday). The local NGO Coordination at the NHC meetings will be represented by MCIC and El hilal, and a third representative relevant to the meeting's issue, if needed. The presidency of the local NGO Coordination is rotational. More information is available in the reports.

Saso Klekovski, MCIC and Abdurauf Prusi, El hilal informed about the activities for the internal displaced persons (IDP) undertaken by local NGOs.

Swe MacIntyre, USAID/OFDA from Washington, is ready to send a team for estimating the needs of the civilians. The government should appoint contact persons considering the distribution of aid offered by USAID/OFDA and to establish cooperation of any kind. USAID is ready to provide aid for the collective centres and agriculture.

Philippe Gaillard, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), informed about the submitted written report of activities. All ICRC activities are realised through the Macedonian Red Cross (IDP registration and distribution of food, medical and non-food supplies).

Ljupka Petrovska, Macedonian Red Cross (MRC) emphasized that MRC made internal action plan (adequate material and human resources) in case of further escalation of the crisis.

Vladimir Kuculovski, UNDP, informed that UNDP will undertake activities in shelter and water supply sector, and in cooperation with other international organizations will prepare joint strategy.

Aldo Biondi, ECHO, explained that at the present they have 11 projects related to the crisis totalling at 7 million Euros. Distribution of food and non-food supplies will be conducted in cooperation with ICRC. ECHO representatives in Macedonia received "green light" from Brussels for 2.5 million Euros for reconstruction of destroyed facilities. Reports for other sectors will be submitted additionally.

Ad. 2.

Amin Avid, UNHCR, emphasized two issues. First, it is necessary to return IDPs' confidence to the Government and other institutions. Considering the fact that at the present, 110,000 persons are displaced, it is necessary to make maximum efforts for their safe return to their homes. In case of new displacements of persons, there must be preparedness for their on time acceptance. For this to be done, it is necessary to have a good cooperation with the Macedonian Government and a strategy and plan for such situation. Second, for improvement of the situation, the presence of respective governmental representatives at the sectoral meetings is essential. It is also necessary to establish new sector for the return of the displaced persons in their homes.

Aldo Biondi, ECHO supported the idea of more open cooperation with the Government and the presence of governmental, as well as domestic NGO representatives at the sectoral meetings.

Saso Klekovski, MCIC, said that domestic NGOs have expressed their will to participate at the sectoral meetings, but it would be much better if there is translation into Macedonian language as well.

Philippe Gaillard, ICRC, explained that there are several regional coordinations (Kumanovo, Tetovo) that should be taken in sight when considering these issues.

Petar Dimovski, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the need of better information among the involved organizations and informed about the request for submitting weekly plans to the Crisis Management Centre.

Abdurauf Prusi, El hilal, opened the problem with paying Value Added Tax (VAT), as well as Tax on financial transactions (only to domestic entities).

Saso Klekovski, MCIC, said that it is necessary to make clear mechanism for accessing conflict areas (procedure, authorization) for the humanitarian organizations, as well as local inhabitants.

Several other participants emphasized the problem of mobilization of employees from the humanitarian organizations, which causes problems in conducting their regular activities.

After the discussion, the following issues and problems were concluded:

1. Return of the IDPs' confidence to the government
   It is necessary to return IDPs' confidence to the government and other relevant institutions, among other, through making efforts for their return in their homes, as well.
   
   
2. Strategy and plan in case of new displacement of persons
   It is recommended that the Government and other institutions should prepare strategy and plan for possible new displaced persons.
   
   
3. Improvement of the coordination
   Connecting the different coordination mechanisms among foreign organizations, governmental institutions and domestic NGOs is essential for improvement of the coordination.
   
   This can be achieved besides through the National Humanitarian Coordination, through participation of representatives from respective ministries and domestic NGOs on the sectoral meetings at UNHCR as well, i.e. establishing relations between the relevant ministries and organizations as follows:
   
   
   • sectoral meeting for food, with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy;
     
   • sectoral meeting for water supply and sanitation, with the Ministry of Transportation;
     
   • sectoral meeting for shelters, with the Ministry of Transportation;
     
   • sectoral meeting for health care, with the Ministry of Health;
     
   • sectoral meeting for logistics, with the Customs Department and Ministry of Internal Affairs;
     
   • sectoral meeting for hosting families, with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy;
     
   • sectoral meeting for agriculture, with the Ministry of Agriculture.
     
     In order to improve the participation of domestic representatives at the sectoral meetings, translation from English to Macedonian should be provided.
     
     
4. Improvement of the information
   It is recommended to submit weekly plans of the organizations to the Crisis Management Centre.
   
   
5. Conflict areas access procedure
   It is necessary to make clear mechanism for access in conflict areas (procedure, authorization) for the humanitarian organizations, as well as for local inhabitants.
   
   
6. Exempt from mobilization
   It is necessary to accept that the employees in the humanitarian organizations are conducting tasks that are important for the situation in the country. Their mobilization is harmful for the humanitarian organization.
   The Ministry of Defence established mechanism for exemption of mobilization of the employees in the humanitarian organizations conducting tasks important for the humanitarian operations.
   
   
7. Tax incentives for domestic NGOs for purchases in the country
   It is recommended to consider the possibilities of exemption of VAT and Financial Transactions Tax of domestic NGOs for purchases in the country.
   
   
8. The meeting began in 13 o'clock and finished in 14:20.