UNITED NATIONS United Nations Interim Administration Mission In ...

UNITED NATIONS
United Nations Interim
Administration Mission
In Kosovo
Field Operations Unit
Returns Section
Field Operations Unit
Consolidated Report on Returns
Weekly Report 16 - 22 June 2007
NATIONS UNIES
Mission
d’Administration
Intérimaire des Nations
Unies au Kosovo
PRISHTINE/PRISTINA REGION
• TF on rural North (Prishtinë/Priština) reviewed the cases for the humanitarian assistance
Municipal Working Groups & Task Force Meetings
The Task Force Meeting on returns to Donja Brnica took place on 21 June in Prishtinë/Priština Municipality. UNHCR along
with their implementing partner Mercy Corps presented assessment of five cases displaced from Donja/Gornja Brnica. After
reviewing all the cases the Task Force decided to refer one case to UNDP requesting assistance in house construction, given
vulnerability of the family and lack of other means to assist them. Two cases were rejected and two others will be reassessed
by the Mercy Corps to verify if the families fill the criteria for assistance.
Go&Inform Visits/Go&See Visits
At the second coordination meeting for planned GSV to Obilic/q town held on 21 June, DRC representative presented findings
from two scout missions held with regard to this. It was discovered that 4 families who were on initial list of beneficiaries sold
their properties long time ago. Therefore, 3 new families are included to the list which is now consisting of 13 names. KFOR
reported that there is no security concern for visit which is going to take place on 25 and 26 June.
GJILAN/GNJILANE REGION
• 82 persons eventually returned to Babush/Babus in Ferizaj/Uroševac Municipality
Municipal Working Groups & Task Force Meetings
On 18 June 2007 Mercy Corps organized first community meeting for Abdulla Presheva II Project, which gathered about 52
Albanian and 15 Roma representatives. Meeting was attended by RCRU, UNDP, OSCE, and KFOR. Mercy Corps explained
the purpose of the meeting and presented the key elements of the project. During the brainstorming session community
representatives listed their main needs which, among other things, include employment, repair of roads, income generation
projects, and joint community activities.
At the Security Meeting Vrbovac/Vërboc held on 19 June, the minority community leaders meeting in Vrbovac/Vërboc MCO
Director informed about an attack on a Croatian resident in Vrnavokolo/Vërnavokollë and urged the Police to provide
additional protection for Croatian community. KPS reported general security situation as calm and reported that the case in
Vrnavokolo/Vërnavokollë is under investigation. Letnica/Letnicë representative complained about frequent attacks on Croatian
community and informed that one resident from Šašare/Shashare had moved to Letnica/Letnicë. He repeated his complaints
against Macedonian refugees residing in Letnica/Letnicë. Mogila representative informed that the village is left without potable
water following disconnection of electricity at the pump station by KEK due to unpaid bills amounting to 6.000 €. He reported
that lack of water causes a very serious problem at the time when about thirty residents are infected with smallpox. He urged
participants to explore possibilities for resolving the issue.
Displacement/Reconstruction
On 30 June, 82 individuals/60 families (including elderly and young children) return in the village of Srpski Babus/ Babush I
Serbeve. The European Perspective, the implementing agency for the Babush project facilitated the return of families’ in
providing transportation and security with the support of the KPS. Many representatives of international agencies and Kosovo
institutions were present in the village including the Ferizaj/Uroševac MAP who welcomed the IDPs on behalf of the
government and reiterated the municipal support for sustaining the return of IDPs. Among other presents was the former
Minister for Communities and Returns, Mr. Slavisa Petkovic, the UNDP Representative for Kosovo and many local
broadcasters.
Upon the arrival of IDPs in the village, the European Perspective (EP) supplied the families with food rations, basic cleaning
items and partially covered the needs of beds and electrical appliances, thanks to a UNHCR donation of 60 mattresses. The

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EP engineers’ ensured all houses are connected to water and electricity network. A task force was convened on Monday
25 June to review and to address all pending issues including a security plan in the village.
SOUTH WEST REGION - PRIZREN AND PEJË/PEC
• Site visit to the urban area marks next step forwards in the preparations for launching Prizren
urban returns project
Municipal Working Groups & Task Force Meetings
Dragas/h MWG meeting was held on 21 June. The MRO informed that another five Gorani families, with 23 individuals, have
been returned to Dragas/h municipality. ICMC has provided basic assistance to three families, while Mercy Corps is assisting
returnees mainly in agriculture.
Municipal officials have complained that central government has ignored the municipality by not helping enough, giving the
reference of two CPs that were submitted two years back and no information has been made available as yet. They asked for
MCR clarification, as in the previous MWG the representative from MCR promised to provide the information in the next MWG.
The MCO stated that the number of voluntary returns is also increasing whereas three other families have been repatriated
from Austria. He pointed out that there is one family in dire need and requested all agencies for any assistance to ease the life
of this family living without any basic life condition. IOM representative briefed the participants about their community
stabilisation activities in four different villages in the municipality. Responding to a question if there is any possibility to widen
their program to other villages in the municipality, IOM said that there is no such possibility for the time being.
On 20 June 2007, a successful TF plus Interethnic Dialogue meeting was held in Suharekë/Suva Reka municipality to discuss
the modified CP for Mushitishtë/Mušutište village. The IDPs from Mushitishtë/Mušutište and the village heads were also
present. After the lengthy discussion, RCRU said that dividing of CPs into phases may increase the chances of getting funds;
IDPs should come up with concrete proposal. IDPs were told that there is no possibility to get around 4 million euros for the
whole CP, for the reconstruction of 146 houses, as was promised previously by MCR. IDPs, after a consultation with their
partner NGOs from Belgrade, proposed that the number of houses will remain the same (146) in the modified version of CP,
and CP should be divided into phases by clearly indicating it as the first phase, which will follow other phases. There were also
some short comings in the CP, which were related to sustainability and income generation components, that municipality will
incorporate in the final version. All participants agreed on the modified version of the CP, which anticipates reconstruction of
50 houses, out of 146, as phase 1 and it will be sent to MWG for approval, on June 29 2007. Three members of the receiving
community were present. Their approach was very positive and they publicly supported the CP and the return of Serbs to the
village by urging them to do it as soon as possible.
On June 21, a follow-up TF meeting for Prizren urban return project was held in Prizren municipality, chaired by MR. It was
attended by RCRU, MRO, MCO, Director of Urbanism, an architect from the municipality and SS representative.
A site visit has been conducted between two meetings in order to identify the location of houses and make a rough cost
estimate for each house (ten for reconstruction and five houses for minor repair). The whole process has been completed in
two meetings, and both meetings were very effective and supported by the municipal representatives. Next meeting will take
place on June 29 with another site visit with KPC representative, to evaluate the volume of rubble cleaning and to calculate
the time required for this operation.
It was also agreed that all stakeholders will maintain regular contacts and prepare results to be presented to MCR on July 3 by
Sveti Spas. This will be followed by an evaluation meeting with all stakeholders, on July 19.
Comments: Municipality is strongly supporting this project and is fully aboard. SS projects goes to the right direction so far.
On the occasion of the World Day of Refugees and displaced persons, June 20, UNHCR Kosovo has organised a round table
in Shtërpcë/Štrpce. The round table was chaired by MP Shtërpcë/Štrpce. Most of the concerns of Serb refugees, from Croatia
and internally/internally displaced Serbs from Kosovo, were addressed to the protection officer of Kosovo UNHCR.
The IIDPs criticised UNHCR Kosovo for not providing legal status to those displaced within Kosovo. Thus, in their view their
rights have been massively violated, being ignored by the international community. It is not clear whether the round table was
called to tackle the issues of displaced persons or only to mark the World Day of Refugees and displaced persons.
On 18 June the RCRU had a meeting with the Prizren Municipal Red Cross representative and discussed different issues on
communities. In May 2007 Prizren Red Cross (RC) finished a project for RAE women, which was funded by the Spanish Red
Cross. They carried out vocational trainings in order to generate income for their families. The same project, including all
communities, not only RAE, is awaiting for the approval. The aim of this project is multiethnic reinforcement. Two Serb families
are foreseen for this project. Number is limited due to the age of those who can attend such trainings.
Another project “Children in Risk” has been going on since 2003. The aim of the project is to prevent students from the school
abandonment and to offer intensive classes for those who have already abandoned schools due to difficult life conditions. This

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project is also funded by the Spanish Red Cross. Two children of RAE community, IDPs from Belgrade, are included in
intensive classes. Hence, the students will be given the opportunity to attend regular classes with their coevals, upon the
accomplishment of the course. The RC informed that 12-13 Serb families get assistance from the Red Cross. Most of them
are women. These are not IDPs but Serbs who have never left Kosovo. Some Forced Returnees approach Red Cross offices
and they get assistance if they fulfil the criteria.
On 22 June, 2007 the RCRU together with UNDP/SPARK Regional Associate paid a visit to an Egyptian family from village
Zallq/Zac (Istog/k Municipality), in order to sign a TPA for this family (IDP from Montenegro) that is currently living in the house
of their relative, who is expected to return from abroad. The family was very happy to hear good news about the reconstruction
of the house, and they don not have to end up in the street upon the arrival of their relatives from abroad. The TPA’s were
also delivered to MCO of Istog/k for additional signatures. On the same day RCRU together with MCO conducted screening
process for six Forced Returns cases from the villages in Istog/k municipality.
Forthcoming activities:
27 June 07 1000hrs MWG Rahovec/Orahovac (SouthWest Region)
27 June 07 1000hrs MWG Istog/Istok (SouthWest Region)
28 June 07 TF Talinovac/Talinoc Ferizaj/Uroševac (Gjilan/Gnjilane Region)
28 June 07 1100hrs MWG Deçan/Decani (SouthWest Region)
29 June 07 1100hrs MWG Suharekë/ Suva Reka (SouthWest Region)
29 June 07 MWG Ferizaj/Uroševac (Gjilan/Gnjilane Region)
29 June 07 MWG Shtërpcë/Štrpce (Gjilan/Gnjilane Region)
09 July 07 1100hrs TF Kolovica Prishtinë/Priština (Prishtinë/Priština region)
Head/Field
Operations Unit
Gjilan/Gnjilane
Region
Prishtinë/Priština
Region
For more information please contact:
Mr Cornelius Nolen
Mr Robert Ngangue
Ms Aleksandra Witkowska
nolen@un.org
ngangue@un.org
witkowska@un.org
Prizren Region Mr Muhammad Hayat hayatm@un.org
Pejë/Peć Region Mr Denis Begolli begollid@un.org
Mitrovicë/Mitrovica
Region
Ms Karin Oliver
oliverk@un.org
038 504 604
ext. 7613
038 504 604
ext. 7625
038 504 604
ext. 6414
038 504 604
ext. 8009
038 504 604
ext. 3071
038 504 604
ext. 7359