wfn.org | Evangelical aid continues in Albania

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

September 6, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

EVANGELICAL AID CONTINUES IN ALBANIA
98/29/07
     
Tirana, Albania, 06.09.1998  (APD/EBPS) Baptists in 
Albania continue to work as part of the evangelical 
effort to bring aid both to the Kosovar refugees 
coming into Albania from Kosova and for Albanians in 
these areas who themselves are in need of assistance.

In a more recent development, they are also doing a 
"hands-on" small programme in Tirana, using one of 
the refugees himself who was an assistant pastor in 
Kosova.  They have visited all of the registered 
refugees in their area, and have distributed food, 
according to Jonathan Steeper, Director of the 
Baptist Centre in Tirana.

The Albanian Evangelical Alliance (VUSH), in co-
operation with  the Albania Encouragement Project 
(AEP) has been sending teams to the Tropoja district 
of Albania since 10 June to attend the needs of the 
thousands of Kosovar refugees now living in the area. 
Working alongside groups like Oxfam, the 
International Red Cross, ADRA International, and 
Doctors Without Borders, VUSH/AEP has been able to 
help support the humanitarian relief operation.  
Evangelicals  specifically donated more than 100 tons 
of clothing to meet what the refugees felt was their 
greatest need.  Volunteers from Tirana area churches 
worked day-in and day-out to bag items in preparation 
for shipment to the isolated region. In the last 
three weeks, three distributions have provided 
clothing for more than 2,500 families in the area as 
part of their effort to supply clothing for over 
40,000 people, the entire refugee and local 
population.