wfn.org | ADRA Aids Threatened Minority Groups

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

August 13, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

ADRA Aids Threatened Minority Groups 
As Well As Returned Refugees In Kosovo

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA/APD        The Adventist Development 
and Relief Agency (ADRA) is assisting threatened minority groups 
as well as returning refugees in Kosovo. Fred Kumah, operations 
co-ordinator, speaking from his office in Pristina, reports that 
ADRA is responding in Kosovo with community service programs, 
medical clinics, and water and sanitation rehabilitation.

In Pristina, ADRA is operating a telephone hotline as part of its 
community service program. The hotline receives nearly 200 calls 
each day, and about 40 percent of these calls are considered high 
level emergencies or are calls from people in life-threatening 
situations, according to Kumah. ADRA also operates a "food on 
wheels" program that delivers food to minority groups, including 
Serbians and Romas, who feel threatened and are afraid to leave 
their homes. Community service teams are able respond to 
vulnerable cases in villages within a 6-9 mile (10-15 kilometre) 
range of the city.

ADRA operates community service programs at four centres in 
Kosovo. In addition to helping meet basic needs, the community 
service personnel also refer those in need to centres and 
organisations best equipped to assist them. The centres also 
provide information about public health issues and the dangers of 
land mines.

With the destruction and contamination of wells and other sources 
of water, ADRA has begun repairing 1,500 wells in 60 villages. 
ADRA plans to double the number of repair teams in an effort to 
complete the restoration project by September, well before winter 
sets in. ADRA is also preparing to assist with sanitation services 
including latrines repair and refuse disposal.

A Japanese medical team is diagnosing and treating 50-100 
patients a day at two ADRA medical clinics providing primary 
health care to returned refugees. In Mitrovica, a city of about 
100,000 people in northern Kosovo, ADRA has opened a centre in 
the predominantly Albanian section and is opening a similar centre 
on the Serbian side. Last week, ADRA delivered a truckload of 
blankets and hygiene kits to the centres in preparation for 
distribution. In Lipjan, ADRA is working with the British 
peacekeeping troops to identify vulnerable families and locate 
vacant buildings for temporary housing. Many of these vacant 
buildings are owned by the government.

ADRA is also preparing to rebuild and re-equip 105 schools in 
Kosovo and to help farmers obtain parts to repair damaged 
tractors, so they can plant crops before the growing season ends.

With the return of most of the refugees to Kosovo, ADRA closed its 
way station in Kukes, Albania, on July 20. Only 9 miles (15 
kilometres) from the border, the way station distributed food, 
plastic sheeting, and hygiene kits to returning refugees. ADRA 
established the way station on June 17, within 12 hours of 
receiving the request from the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations World Food Programme 
(UNWFP). Refugees were given a one-month ration of food 
consisting of flour, beans, meat or fish, bread, oil, and fruit 
(bananas or oranges).

Open for nearly five weeks, the way station distributed 2,882 tons 
(2,620 metric tonnes) of food to nearly 250,000 returning 
refugees. Up to 15,000 refugees a day passed through the way 
station. ADRA is continuing to provide primary health care and 
trauma counseling services to remaining refugees in southwest 
Albania. There are fewer than 15,000 refugees still in Albania, and 
they are reportedly making plans with the UNHCR and 
international organisations to return home during August.