Albania - DHA: 04-10.Oct.97

Albania
Situation Report from the UN Resident Coordinator
Period Covered: 04-10 October 1997


HIGHLIGHTS
- Government of Albania signed a Letter of Intent with the IMF,
requesting USD 12 million to support the countrys  economy.
- Albanias Parliament has created a commission to investigate the
reasons for the unrest earlier this year.
- 15 MTs of explosives anticipated to be taken to Tirana have been
confiscated according to police sources in Puka, North of Albania.
- Police forces discovered a considerable quantity of ammunition and
explosives in a building under construction in a Tirana suburb.

SECURITY AND POLITICAL
General
Security throughout Albania has been improving with an increase of free
unescorted movements along the main arterial roads. However there are 
some stretches where highway robbery still occurs.

Most towns are now under police control as the majority of gang leaders
and their members have been arrested by the special police force. 
Shkodra is still insecure.

Albanian students in Tirana have been marching in support of Albanian
students in Kosovo.

Democratic Party is still calling for socialist Government to step down
and intend to organise a joint rally on Monday with pyramid scheme money
losers.

Western European Union mandate to assist  the Albanian police, has been
extended for further six months and the number of advisors increased
from 26 to 60.

Northern Region
Shkodra
No travel is allowed to Shkodra without informing police liaison
officer, as the city is still not 100 percent secure.

Puka
Fifteen MTs of explosive destined to be sold in Tirana were confiscated
by the police in the village of Gjegjan, 30km from Puka.

Central Region
N.T.R

Southern Region
Saranda
Is more stable since special police captured a most wanted gang of five
who were responsible for last weeks anti tank rocket attack to the
police station.

An explosive device went off aboard the Greek Corfu-Saranda ferry boat,
causing some damage but no casualties.

On Sunday, 4 October police discovered an anti tank mine placed in the
vicinity of the ferry boat -Mimosa.- Police have concluded that these
explosive attacks are the work of rival smuggling gangs looking for
exclusive dominance over local sea routes.

The police must be informed if any UN-NGO organisation plans to visit
Saranda.

Vlora
A police operation in the Cole quarter of Vlora culminated in the
capture of gang leader Myrtaza Caushi and confiscation of 1,000 assorted
weapons and 45 kg of cannabis.

HUMANITARIAN
Food Aid
During the last week WFP delivered 355 MTs of wheat flour to 4 districts
of Albania. UNICEF distributed on 10 October, 1 MT of biscuits to the
humanitarian NGO -Comunitta di Sant Egidio- to be delivered to the
families of Lezha and some villages on the North of Albania.

Health
N.T.R.

Social Affairs-Education
UNICEF reported on an agreement reached this week with two NGOs of Korca
and Berat, -Terre des Hommes- and -Per mbajtjen e femijes,- in order to
support education and reintegration of street children.

Upcoming Coordination Meetings
Security discussion:
Monday 13 October at 16:00 hrs and Friday 17 October at 10:00 hrs at the
UNICEF office.
Food:
Thursday 16 October at 10:30 hrs at the UNICEF office.
Health:
Friday 24 October at 10:30 hrs at the 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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