Albania - UN: 20-26.Sep.97
Albania - UN: 20-26.Sep.97
United Naitons
Situation Report from the UN Resident Coordinator in ALBANIA
Period Covered: 20-26 September 1997
HIGHLIGHTS
- Democratic Party supporters hold daily demonstrations in the street
and call for the resignation of Prime Minister Fatos Nano
- Ministerial Conference to be held in Rome, Italy 17 October
- Food was delivered to 17,468 families and three institutions
- UNICEF and HCC signed a funding agreement for health assistance to
Kukes and Puke
- USAID funds CRS to provide hospital linen and disinfectants
SECURITY AND POLITICAL
General Situation
The main arterial roads are now secure with UN Agencies-NGOs moving
reasonably freely. However, there is still occasional highway robbery.
The police are in control of all major towns with the exception of Kucove,
Gramsh, and Corovode, where police escort are still required.
Several events have occurred in the past twelve days, which have created a
different atmosphere in the country. On Thursday 18 September a small
explosive device exploded at the Socialist Party office in Shkodra, also
on Thursday the Socialist MP Gafur Mazreku shot and wounded Democratic
Party Deputy Azem Hajdari in the Chamber of Parliament and a Ministry of
Culture car was blown up in Shkodra. There have been democratic
supporters rallies every night in Tirana. Police say these rallies are
illegal although they have been peaceful so far. A drive by shooting took
place in Shkodra 24 September wounding a Socialist Party member. The
Socialist Party has appealed to all parties not to make use of the
shooting event for political purposes which may lead to new
destabilization in Albania. Shkodra is now a place to visit with caution
due to frequent shootings and explosions at day and night. According to
the Minister of Interior, one sixth of all looted weapons have been
collected.
Defense Ministry figures for killings and weapons returned:
Deaths March-September Weapons-Ammunition
Recovered August-September
1311 Total 518 Heavy machine guns
- of which - 1185 Deliberate 282 Anti tank grenades
126 Accidental 116 Guns -Mortars
219 Anti Aircraft
75 Killed children machine guns
52 Policemen killed 732 Anti Tank-infantry
on duty mines
2.162 Automatic Rifles
1450 Wounded people 20.689 Rifles
- of which - 324 Accidentally 1.266 Light machine guns
wounded 7.786 Hand grenades
400 Wounded 8.000.000 Rounds of ammunition
children 78 Shells
1.070 Mortar bombs
Weapons and ammunition looted from 1.200 arms depots (official figures)
652 Thousand weapons of different caliber
1.56 Billion rounds
3.5 Million hand grenades
3.600 MTs of explosive
1 Million mines
Northern Region
Shkodra
A small explosive device placed at Socialist Party Headquarters on
Thursday 18 September damaged the front door and a window. No injuries
occurred. A bomb blew up a car of the M. of C. on Saturday 20 September.
On the 24 September a drive-by shooting incident occurred. It seems that
a Socialist Party member was the intended target. Gunmen in cars have been
seen shooting on the main highways close to Shkodra. Reports have
indicated that police are almost ineffective and that the Special Police
Force will be sent to sort out the problems.
Central Region
Tirana
Democratic Party demonstrations calling for the resignation of Prime
Minister Fatos Nano have been taking place every evening since the
shooting incident on 18 September. All demonstrations have ended
peacefully and they have been allowed to go on even though the police warn
that these rallies are illegal.
Cerrik
Police are now in control of the town following the arrest of six members
of the Buzani family gang who were wanted for murder and robbery. Cerrik
is now classed as secure.
Southern Region
Saranda
Customs officials are now in control of the port of Saranda. The town is
more secure although it is not a -green go- place yet.
Gramsh
An armed gang of three men beat to death a policeman who was on duty in
the town centre, then attacked the police station. Reinforcements from
the special police drove them off. Three of the gang were later arrested.
POLITICAL
The OSCE in Tirana chaired a meeting with the participation of the donor
and UN community. During the meeting, the State Minister for Economic
Development and Cooperation, Ms. Ermelinda Meksi presented an overview of
her Ministrys organisation and outlined preparations for the Ministerial
Conference to be held on 17 October 1997 in Rome, Italy. Discussions
concerning the date of the Donor Conference to be held in Brussels also
took place. No date has been confirmed, but the conference will probably
take place at the end of October. On Friday 26 August a meeting was held
to discuss donor support for the preparation of the Constitution of
Albania.
OSCE Special Envoy for Albania, Dr. Franz Vranizky, called for a working
group meeting 2 October in Vienna to discuss the Ministerial Conference.
The UN Resident Coordinator has been invited to participate in the
meeting.
HUMANITARIAN
Mr. Jean-Pierre Kolly, the Head of the UNHCR Liaison Office in Tirana,
arrived during the week. Mr. Kollys previous assignment with UNHCR was in
Turkey.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights will hold a
meeting on Monday 29 September to develop measures for the increased
involvement of the Albanian civil society in consolidating democratic
institutions and facilitating national reconciliation.
Food Aid
WFP delivered 960 boxes of high-energy biscuits to the Orphans Association
in Korce, Invalids Association in Kolonje and the Childrens Centre in
Tirana City.
ICRC delivered 17,468 family food parcels (fps) to:
Has 744 fps
Kukes 242 fps
Tirana 5550 fps
Lushnje 3020 fps
Korce 3420 fps
Berat 2620 fps
Kavaje 1520 fps
Malesia Madhe 352 fps
Health
WHO pharmaceutical expert (Dr. I. Mattei) conducted an assessment trip to
hospitals and private pharmacies in Fier, Lushnje and Kavaje. Hospital
pharmacies and private pharmacies were visited in order to assess the
accessibility of the general population to acute and maintenance drugs and
to examine the reimbursement scheme as prescribed by the Health Insurance
Institute. Dr. Mattei will relate on these issues during the next Health
Coordination meeting Friday 3 October 1997.
The Ministry of Health and WHO will chair the workshop on Health sponsored
by ODIHR on 29 September 1997.
UNICEF and HCC (Humanitarian Cargo Carriers) signed an agreement to
provide health assistance to Kukes and Puke under the UNICEF -Adopt a
Health District- programme. In the next three months HCC will assist
selected health centres, the public laboratory and district hospitals.
USAID and CRS signed an agreement for USD 25,000 to provide hospital linen
and disinfectants to six hospitals - Tirana, Elbasan, Lushnje, Berat,
Vlore and Gjirokaster.
During the week CRS also delivered USD 9500 worth of drugs to Permet.
Social Affairs
UNICEF delivered of cash assistance to the Disabled Childrens Centre in
Berat. The delivery is the last of a USD 19,000 project financed by the
Swiss Cooperation which helped 17 childrens institutions (10 orphanages
and 7 disabled childrens centres.) The cash enabled the institutions to
purchase daily supplies such as food and hygiene materials during the
crisis period.
Upcoming Coordination Meetings
Security discussion:
Monday 29 September at 1600 hrs and Friday 3 October at 1000 hrs at the
UNICEF office.
Food:
Thursday 16 October 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
Mr. Jan Wahlberg UNDP Resident Representative and Resident Coordinator
Tel.: (0035542) 275 00 or 322 63 - Fax: (0035542) 300 28
E-Mail: Wahlberg@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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