Albania - UN: 13-19.Sep.97
Albania - UN: 13-19.Sep.97
DHAGVA 97/0346
Situation Report from the UN Resident Coordinator in ALBANIA
Period Covered: 13-19 September 1997
HIGHLIGHTS
- Socialist Party Deputy shot Democratic Deputy in Parliament
- Water pipeline blown up in Tirana
- VAT increased from 12.5 to 20 percent
- Food was delivered to 10,377 families
- ECHO has signed agreements to finance five NGOs and WHO
SECURITY AND POLITICAL
General situation
The security situation in Albania has improved with a few reported
incidents. The police seem to have the control of the main artery roads
although part of the road linking Saranda to Vlora is not yet completely
secure. The same is true for Burrel -Peshkopi. With regard to the towns
there is now a police presence in most of the towns, although some are
still unsafe to visit without a police escort.
There is some unrest in Kosovo, which is on the Serbian side of Albanias
northeast border. Albanians simultaneously attacked ten police stations
on Friday night with automatic weapons. The Liberation Army of Kosovo
has claimed responsibility for these attacks.
Fighting broke out in Parliament between a Socialist Party Deputy, Gafur
Mazreku, and a Democratic Party Deputy, Azem Hajdari, on Wednesday 17
September. Thursday morning, 18 September, Mr. Mazreku shot and wounded
opposition party deputy Azem Hajdari in the Parliament building. Mr.
Mazreku has been charged with attempted murder. A large demonstration in
protest of the shooting took place Thursday evening in Skanderbeg
Square.
Northern region
Macedonia has complained about illegal weapons entering Macedonia from
Albania across the northwest border, enough to arm a brigade.
Central region
At 01.00 hrs. Saturday morning 13 September, an explosive device was
placed on the main water pipeline at Shkoza. As a result most of Tirana
city was without water on Saturday and Sunday. The pipeline has since
been repaired. It is said that the perpetrators of the explosion were
disgruntled car wash owners whose business was closed down by the
government because they were using the short supplied potable water.
Southern Region
According to the police, a gang of six men aged 20-30 where shot dead by
a rival gang in Elbasan on Saturday. Otherwise, Elbasan reported to be
secure up to 18.00 hrs each evening.
Kucove
This town is returning to relative normality, after the arrest of many
criminals and the retrieval of a great number of weapons and ammunition
by a large police operation.
Vlore
Police arrested a notorious gang leader, Leonard Ismet Idrizi, after he
threw a grenade. The 16-year-old gang leader was wanted for the murder
of one member of his own family.
Gjirokaster
Special police units have arrested several precinct policemen for their
association and collaboration with criminals involved in highway
robbery.
Tuesday, September 16, the old cinema in Gjirokaster was destroyed by
fire, police believe deliberately.
Wednesday, at about 13.00, approximately 12 kilometers southeast of
Ballsh, a bus was stopped at a gunpoint and passengers robbed.
Gramsh
Special police have arrested several criminals and confiscated weapons
in their latest operation in the city.
POLITICAL
The Albanian Parliament approved an VAT increase from 12.5 percent to 20
percent. The increase will take effect 1 October 1997.
According to reports, the Albanian Premier, Fatos Nano, had a successful
visit to Europe (Austria, Luxembourg and Belgium) last week. The EU,
NATO and the European Investment Bank have shown strong support for
Albania.
HUMANITARIAN
A joint WHO-UNICEF team and the UN Field Security Officer traveled to
Gjirokaster and Permet Wednesday 17 September - Thursday 18 September.
The mission assessed security and conditions of hospital, health centre
and private pharmacies, looked into budget issues and conducted an
assessment of public health laboratories in preparation of a WHO project
recently approved for financing by ECHO. The mission also delivered
maternity kits donated by UNFPA to Gjirokaster.
A WHO expert from the Communicable Disease Unit of WHOs regional office
in Copenhagen, Dr. M. Ciotti, accompanied the mission to assess the
disease surveillance system. The team concluded that the situation in
the area is worrisome and additional interventions may be needed to
complement the work already being implemented by the Italian NGO CESVI
financed by ECHO.
ECHO has signed agreements with five NGOs and WHO. The projects are as
follows:
- WHO -- Supply of equipment and consumables to public health and
hospital laboratories, Prevention and control of water borne diseases.
- C.A.M.P. S.F. (Comite daide Medicale et de Parrainage Sans
Frontieres)-Albanian Health Association (Berat, Kocove, Skrapar and
Elbasan districts) -- Rehabilitation of five health centres, Kucove
hospital and the Berat Institute for Public Health. Supply of medicines
and medical materials to 6 hospitals and 47 health centres.
- CEFA (Comitato Europeo di Formazione Agricola) Rehabilitation and
supply of medicines to the referral hospital of Elbasan, as well as the
maternity and psychiatric hospitals, supply of a laboratory kit to the
Elbasan hospital and provision of food for 400 families in town and 288
inpatients at the psychiatric hospital.
- Movimondo and Crystal Club Rehabilitation of the emergency unit at
the Tirana Hospital and three health centres, supply of medicines,
medical material and hygiene items to the health centres in the
district.
- MDM Greece Reopening of the hospital in Sarande and Delvine, supply
of basic medicines and medical materials.
- Dimitra Food aid to 5,000 destitute families, pensioners and
single-widowed women.
A delegation from the European Union Commission visited Albania to
assess the situation for future possible interventions. The delegation
included a representative from ECHO. ECHO is working on the third
tranche of funds for winter.
IOMs new Special Liaison Officer for Albania, Ms. Barbara Fridel,
arrived in country this week. IOM is currently implementing an
Information on Migration Programme and a programme for the voluntary
return of Albanian migrants from Italy to Albania. IOM is also
investigating possible projects to be implemented in areas were migrants
traditionally originate.
Food Aid
During the week WFP delivered 1,260 bags (63 MTs) of wheat flour to
Gramsh district. WFP has no more stocks in Durres port but expects the
last shipment to arrive by the end of next week.
ICRC delivered 9,117 family food parcels (fps) to:
Kucove 820 fps
Kukes 396 fps
Tirana 4,226 fps
Skrapar 1,820 fps
Malesi e Madhe 345 fps
Tropoje 1,510 fps
Health
WHO-UNICEF held the 16th Health Coordination Meeting. During the meeting
the Albanian NGO Crystal Club, and the Italian NGO CTM, presented an
overview of two areas, Librazhd and Pogradec, where they plan to work as
part of the UNICEF Adopt a District Programme.
Mr. Indro Mattei, the WHO Drug Management Expert, presented preliminary
findings on hospital, health clinic and private pharmacies. The findings
indicate that there are some problems maintaining a supply of essential
drugs in the hospitals and some duplication of donations to hospitals.
The efficient functioning of health clinic pharmacies often depended on
the dedication of the staff. The private pharmacy system appears to be
working well. Private pharmacies are partially reimbursed by the health
insurance system when they sell anything from an official list of about
270 items. The patient purchases the item but at a much lower price.
Private pharmacies did not seem to have any trouble in stocking
essential drugs.
Social Affairs
On Thursday 18 September UNICEF hosted a Social Affairs Coordination
Meeting. During the meeting the Soros Foundation announced that they are
accepting proposals for social projects.
At the end of October UNICEF Albania will sponsor a workshop to train
psycho-social helpers
Despite problems such as looted furniture and a lack of materials,
schools opened on Monday 15 September.
Upcoming Coordination Meetings
Security discussion:
Monday 22 September at 1600 hrs and Friday 26 September at 1000 hrs at
the UNICEF office.
Food:
Thursday 25 September at 10:30 at the UNICEF office.
Social Affairs:
Thursday 2 October at 10:30 at the UNICEF office.
Health:
Friday 3 October at 10:30 at UNICEF office.
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. Sylvia 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. David McLachlan-Karr
Tel.: (1 212) 963.0226 - Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: mclachlan-karr@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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