wfn.org | Adventists Responds to Humanitarian Disaster in Balkans

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

April 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

Adventist Church Responds to Humanitarian Disaster in 
Balkans

Basel, Switzerland - The Seventh-day Adventist Church and 
the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) are 
making major efforts to ease the humanitarian disaster in 
the Balkan region.

"ADRA/Trans-Europe is heavily involved in the planning of 
the relief efforts for the refugees in Albania and Macedonia, 
but will also spearhead activities to help the victims of the 
conflict within Yugoslavia, including the Republic of 
Montenegro and the province of Kosovo," says Reinder 
Bruinsma, executive secretary of the Adventist Church's 
Trans-European Division and chairman of the ADRA/TE 
Board.  "A consultation at the Division headquarters is 
planned for April 6 where more detailed plans will be 
discussedin particular regarding humanitarian assistance to 
the 10,000 members of the Adventist Church in Yugoslavia," 
he added. 

ADRA is the lead humanitarian aid agency for Kosovo 
refugees in Albania, according to Beth Schaefer, news and 
information officer for ADRA International.

"Up to 100,000 refugees are now under the care of ADRA 
after signing an agreement today with the World Food 
Program (WFP)," reports Schaefer. "Under the agreement, 
ADRA will serve as the primary cooperating 
nongovernmental organization (NGO) for relief in nine 
Albanian districts. ADRA will be distributing food in Kukės, 
Vlorė, Bajrum Curri, Cibrė, Fier, Korcė, Berat, and 
Gjirokastėr. The meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) being provided 
to the refugees are being donated by WFP and distributed by 
the ADRA staff."

ADRA is also coordinating the shipment of various relief 
supplies from other country offices. ADRA/Italy sent a 20-
foot container of rice to Skopje, Macedonia, where ADRA 
volunteers will deliver the food to designated refugee camps. 

ADRA/United Kingdom is currently working on sending three 
vehicles to Tirane, Albania, with blankets, clothes, non-
prescription medicine and hygiene products. 

ADRA/Switzerland, Germany and Austria are also 
coordinating a shipment of clothing and food for Albania. 
The 13 tons of clothing from Switzerland were donated by 
the Swiss community and many Seventh-day Adventist 
churches.

The South German Union Conference of the Seventh-day 
Adventist Church has granted DEM 150.000 at the disposal 
of Kosovo refugees in Macedonia. With this money the 
Adventist Development and Relief Agency ADRA-Germany is 
to distribute food an hygienic necessities among the 
people in the border town Tetovo. ADRA Project leader 
Daniel Schüttler is already on the spot to coordinate 
the help with the sister organization ADRA-Macedonia. 
Besides, with financial support from the Foreign 
Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, ADRA-Germany  
wants to supply 4.000 refugee families in Macedonia 
with vital necessities.

The situation in Yugoslavia is worsening, according to 
reports from Miodrag Zivanovic, communication director for 
the Adventist Church in Yugoslavia.

"We survived another night of severe bombing" reports 
Zivanovic.  "It is a dreadful sight to see bridges, factories, 
schools, public heating and electrical plants being destroyed 
which are the key infrastructure necessary for everyday life," 
he says.

"The bridge over the river Danube, which was blown up in 
the city of Novi Sad, was the carrier for the main pipe-line 
for drinking water to the population of that city," continues 
Zivanovic. "There is an evident shortage of food and medical 
supplies among the general population, including our church 
members. Those who have chronic illnesses are in a 
desperate situation. Food is running out and medical 
supplies are non-existent in Kosovo. We are trying to find a 
way of sending through a truckload of food and basic 
medical supplies."

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is committed to 
community and humanitarian aid regardless of nationality, 
belief, or ethnic background. It issued a statement on
April 6 calling for an end to all violence in the Balkan region 
and for a resolution to the humanitarian disaster. 

(c) Copyright 
Adventist Press Service (APD)/
Adventist News Network (ANN) 1999.