Kosovo - OFDA: 04-Dec-98
USAID/OFDA Kosovo Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) Update
December 4, 1998
NGOs to Propose Joint Communications Network for Kosovo
UNHCR Belgrade requested that NGOs in Kosovo coordinate their radio
requirements and forward them to Belgrade so UNHCR can present a formal
proposal to the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (GoFRY). In
response to this request, 20 NGOs in Pristina are in the process of
collaborating on a proposal to establish a joint communications network for
Kosovo. The draft proposal calls for at least ten HF frequencies to support
a minimum requirement of 101 HF units and 98 VHF units (handheld radios,
vehicle radios, and base stations) and an "ideal" requirement of 152 HF units
and 272 VHF units. The head of office UNHCR Pristina stated that UNHCR will
fully support the groups efforts to obtain the radio licenses and frequencies
necessary to operate in Kosovo. He stated that OSCE Ambassador Walker and
the Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade have already pledged
their support for this initiative and recommended that NGOs also solicit
support from their dono!rs and embassies. Although the head of the
UNHCR/Pristina office fully supports this proposal, he believes that the
community's efforts would be better directed at pressing the GoFRY for formal
registration as humanitarian organizations. Without formal registration, he
is not optimistic that the GoFRY can be compelled to grant the licenses and
frequencies necessary to establish the network.
MCI, CRS, and WFP Sign Cooperative Agreement
On December 2, MCI, CRS, and WFP signed a cooperative agreement to coordinate
the distribution of food commodities in Kosovo. Under this agreement the
three organizations agreed to provide food for a total of 480,000
beneficiaries (WFP 300,000, CRS 130,000, and MCI 50,000) in Kosovo. The
agreement also establishes areas of responsibility for each organization.
CRS will deliver food commodities from their Prizren field office, MCI from
their Pec field office, and WFP from their Pristina office. The
organizations also agreed that the Mother Teresa Society (MTS) will be the
main counterpart for local distribution of commodities. In addition, the
agreement sets the ration level per beneficiary per month at 12 kilograms
(kg) flour, one liter oil, one kg pulses, and one kg sugar.
Phase Two of the IDP Shelter Survey Set to Begin
It was announced at the December 3 UNHCR-chaired shelter coordination
meeting, that phase two of the IDP shelter survey would begin on December 4
and end on December 15. A UNHCR representative noted that several villages
were missed in the first assessment and phase two of the survey would provide
a more complete picture of the shelter situation in Kosovo. Phase two of the
survey will use the same forms and categories as used in phase one and will
concentrate on villages in the conflict affected municipalities.
Prizren Electrical Distribution Center Asks for Payment
A representative of US KDOM told the Kosovo DART that the Prizren electrical
distribution center is requesting the back payment of all outstanding debts
before power is restored to the Prizren district which includes the
municipalities of Malisevo, Suva Reka, and Orahovac. KDOM reports that
restoration of power is not a technical problem as the infrastructure is
largely intact with only minor repairs required. The outstanding debt for
the 12,819 households in the region is 9,992,651 dinars ($819,157). This
averages out to $64.48 for each household.
Convoy reports for December 4, 1998
The following is a breakdown of humanitarian aid convoys for December 4,
1998.
1.
Location: Ratkoc - municipality of Orahovac
Beneficiaries: 6,000 IDPs
Escort: UNHCR
Commodities: MCI - 1 truck (1200 liters of vegetable oil, 1600 kg sugar, 1000
kg rice, 1000 kg salt, 300 kg milk powder, 576 hygienic packs, 1728 packs of
soup, 60 blankets, 1000 pairs of footwear/boots, 500 bars of soap, 10 packs
of plastic sheets)
CRS - 1 truck (90 packs of soap, 10 bags of footwear, 1400 kg clothes)
UNHCR - 1 truck (512 hygienic packs, 86 packs of soap, 20 bales of blankets,
200 mattresses)
Total food items: 5.4 MT
Total non-food: 10.5 MT
2.
Location: Ciflak - municipality of Orahovac
Beneficiaries: 4,500 IDPs
Escort: UNHCR
Commodities: MCI - 1 truck (804 liters of vegetable oil, 1000 kg sugar, 500
kg rice, 600 kg salt, 200 kg milk powder, 288 hygienic packs, 1152 packs of
soup, 600 pair of footwear/boots, 60 blankets, 76 kg detergent, 500 bars of
soap, 5 packs of plastic sheets, 40 bags of clothes)
CRS - 1 truck ( 10 bags of footwear, 90 packs of soap, 1450 kg clothes)
UNHCR - 1 truck (256 hygienic packs, 86 packs of soap, 16 bales of blankets,
250 mattresses)
Total food items: 3.2 MT
Total non-food: 10.5 MT
3.
Location: Vucak - municipality of Glogovac
Beneficiaries: 2,700 IDPs
Escort: UNHCR
Commodities: MCI - 1 truck (30 stoves, 800 liters of vegetable oil, 1000 kg
sugar, 500 kg rice, 600 kg salt, 300 kg milk powder, 288 hygienic packs, 1152
packs of soup, 600 pair of footwear/boots, 90 blankets, 96 kg detergent, 500
bars of soap, 10 packs of plastic sheets, 40 bags of clothes)
CRS - 1 truck ( 10 bags of footwear, 90 packs of soap, 1500 kg clothes)
Total food items: 3.3 MT
Total non-food: 5.6 MT
distributed by
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Volunteers in Technical Assistance
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