Albania - DHA: 26.Jul-01.Aug.97
Albania - DHA: 26.Jul-01.Aug.97
DHAGVA 97/0316
Situation Report from the UN Resident Coordinator in ALBANIA
Period Covered: 26 July - 1 August 1997
HIGHLIGHTS
Hijacks of CD plated vehicles increased
The United Nations Agencies, donors and NGOs are working on a plan for a
Convoy Movement Centre
MDM Greece donated 20 MTs of medicines to Albania
SECURITY AND POLITICAL
Northern Region
Lezha: Special Police Forces (SPF) tried to stop a car at a road block.
The vehicle drove on and four occupants opened fire, killing one SPF and
wounding four. The SPF returned fire and killed all four in the car.
Gangs in Lezha have changed their modus operandi. They have stopped
highway robbery and are concentrating on whole villages.
Central Region
Police exert more control in Fier. General clean out of corruption in
the police force to begin said police chief Agron Brace.
Peshkopi people have sent an ultimatum to Premier Bashkim Fino to secure
the road to Dibra. Otherwise they will loot the military magazines and
organise themselves to secure the route. In four months, fourteen people
have been killed, eight wounded and many robbed.
Peshkopi report three killed and 16 wounded in an explosion in an
apartment on 25 July.
Two Siemens employees were robbed on Duress road.
In Tirana Criminals hijacked an Italian, hit him wiht a pistol tried to
stole his car. However, the cut off switch on the car was activated and
the thieves deserted it.
In Kruje Gangs operate highway robbery.
On the Tirana-Duress road UNOPS CD plated vehicle was hijacked by four
armed gunmen on 30 July.
Southern Region
In Gjirokaste Bullets and bombs all week, crime at all time high. Public
buildings at risk according to the police chief who states he is not
receiving any assistance from the central office in Tirana. He has not
been able to patrol as his cars and motorbikes are out of fuel.
In Elbasan a large gang took over a hotel outside of Elbasan and set up
a roadblock.
At the Kakavija border crossing point SPF has been deployed to serve
this point and get rid of the gangs who are fighting to control it.
However, the other border crossings at Kapshtila ne Korce are still
insecure.SPF arrested some bandits.
In Tepelena two people were killed and seven wounded in shootouts. This
city has one of the highest crime rates. Armed bandits fired on a bus
when it failed to stop. Several people were wounded. A car was fired on
by bandits killing one and wounding another.
25 vehicles traveling on the Tepelena -Ballsh roads are subject to
robbery.
In Novoseca, between Fier and Vlore, eight armed men hijacked an OSCE CD
plated vehicle.
Political
During a press conference Genc Pollo (DP) severely attacked Fatos Nanos
programme, stating that the programme does not guarantee stability and a
full national governing.
The Democratic Party members of the Parliament continue to boycott the
Parliament.
Humanitarian
On Tuesday, 29 July, a meeting hosted by the Resident Coordinator was
held to discuss possible security information exchange and convoy
movement. UN Agencies, donors and NGOs attended the meeting. An overview
of the current situation was given with particular emphasis on the
insecurity prevailing in the country, limiting humanitarian
organisations ability to work and deliver aid. A working group was
established composed of the UN Field Security Officer, DHA, WFP, WHO,
ECMM, CRS and Premiere Urgence. The working group will establish a more
detailed plan for security information exchange and convoy movement.
On Friday 1 August, WFP hosted a food aid coordination meeting. At the
meeting, IOCC alerted the participants to the need for food aid in the
mountainous areas where the population is traditionally poor and
undernourished. These people may be at risk in the winter as they do not
have stores of food and most traditional income has stopped.
During the week, WFP delivered wheat flour to 2,500 families:
Lac 1,500
Fier 1,000
ICRC delivered 4,335 family food parcels to:
Duress 1,020
Bulqize 815
Fier 2,500
During the week, Premiere Urgence has delivered 60 MTs of canned beef to
approximately 6,000 beneficiary families in Tirana.
Health
MDM Greece has brought in twenty MTs of medical supplies. They are
currently in contact with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and WHO to
determine the allocation of the items. During a preliminary
investigation, MDM identified some areas in the south, however, given
the current insecurity in the area, deliveries may be difficult. Some
items have already been distributed to hospital directors from Berat and
Tirana.
According to a news report, the Greek military participating in the Alba
mission left five million Drachma (18,315 USD) for supplies for the
Elbasan hospital.
ASTHMA-PSI (Albanian Social Marketing Association and Population
Services International) in collaboration with UNFPA launched a radio
talk show entitled -Its Your Life.- -Its Your Life- is a 30-minute radio
programme, which will be run each Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. The first
show will be broad costed on Sunday, 3 August.
CRS (Catholic Relief Services) delivered 2,200 USD worth of medicines
and supplies to the Elbasan Psychiatric Hospital on 19 July. On 30 July,
CRS also delivered 6,250 USD.
Social Affairs
UNICEF, with the assistance of the NGO HCC, delivered 980 kg of high
protein biscuits to Shkoder district.
Upcoming Coordination Meetings
Security Discussion: Monday 4 August at 10:30 at the UNICEF office.
Food: Thursday, 14 August at 10:30 at the UNICEF office.
Social Affairs: Thursday, 7 August at 10:30 at the UNICEF office.
Health: Friday, 8 August at 10:30 at UNICEF office.
NEW GOVERNMENT COMPOSITION
PRESIDENT
Rexhep Mejdani
Cabinet
Fatos Nano Prime Minister (SP)
Bashkim Fino Deputy Prime Minister (SP)
Kastriot Islami State Minister close to
Prime Minister (SP)
Arben Imami State Minister for
Institutional Reform (DAP)
Ermelinda Meksi State Minister for Economic
Development and Cooperation (SP)
Ministers
Paskal Milo Minister of Foreign Affairs (SDP)
Neritan Ceka Minister of Interior (DAP)
Sabit Brokaj Minister of Defense (SP)
Arben Malaj Minister of Finance (SP)
Thimio Kondi Minister of Justice
Ylli Bufi Minister of Public Economy
and Privatization (SP)
Leonard Solis Minister of Health (UHRP)
Ethem Ruka Ministry of Education and Science (SP)
Lufter Xhuveli Minister of Agriculture and Food (AP)
Shaqir Vukaj Minister of Industry,
Transport and Trade (SP)
Arta Dade Minister of Culture,
Youths and Sports (SP)
Elmaz Sherifi Minister of Labor,
Social Affairs and Woman (SP)
Gaqo Apostoli Minister of Public
Works and Transport (SDP)
State Secretaries
Perikli Teta Secretary of State in
the Ministry of Defense (DAP)
Ndre Legici Secretary of State in the
Ministry of Interior (SP)
Maqo Lakrori Secretary of State in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SP)
Lush Perpali Secretary of State in the
Ministry of Local Administration(SP)
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
United Nations Office in Tirana, Albania
Dr. Gianfranco Rotigliano
UN Resident Coordinator a.i.,
Tel.: (0035542) 275 00 or 322 63 - Fax: (0035542) 300 28
E-Mail: Rotiglia@unicef.tirana.al
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) - Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Ms. Silvia Ferazzi
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1402 -Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergency Division (CED) - New York
Mr. Kazuhide Kuroda
Tel.: (1 212) 963.5713 - Fax: (1 212) 963.3630
E-Mail: kuroda@un.org
Press to contact (DHA-Geneva)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856 - Fax: (41 22) 917.0023
Telex: 414242 DHA CH - E-Mail: Moulin-Acevedo@dha.unicc.org
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