UNMIK ORC - Kosovo Returns Activities Newsletter No. 39
Week 9 - 16 April 2004
Regional Developments
RRU met the new Peja/Pec DRC Program Manager to discuss the status of DRC's preparatory works for the Kosh/Kos Return Project and agricultural assistance to Llukavc i Thatë / Suvi Lukavac. On preparatory works for Kosh/Kos, DRC stated they were currently reevaluating the commitment of
the potential beneficiaries to return. DRC and RRU then agreed to meet with President and MR of Istog/k Municipality to take stock of recent events and possible implications on project implementation. DRC confirmed that they would be providing Llukavc i Thatë / Suvi Lukavac with necessary agricultural equipments (tractor) and materials (seeds and fertilizer).
In an effort to improve flow and access of information to Llukavc i Thatë / Suvi Lukavac, DRC started delivery of newspapers provided by OSCE to the village on April 16th. OSCE also delivers newspapers to Bellopojë / Belopolje, Osajane, Binxhë / Biça and Grapc / Grabac three times a week.
. Pejë/Pec
Following the GIV to Kraljevo led by IOM on April 7th, RRU met with the MR and LCO of Peja/Pec Municipality on April 17th to discuss the Sigë/Siga, Brestovik and Ljevosa / Levoshe (SBL) Concept Paper, the GIV and the way forward. The Peja/Pec Municipal team is in strong favour of continuation of this project, but maintains that security assessment and plan is an absolute imperative from KFOR and Police. Both RRU and the Peja/Pec Municipal team dismissed the idea of postponing or delaying the project, especially since IOM confirms commitment of the IDPs to return.
Peja/Pec LCO and RRU met with Italian KFOR on April 13th to discuss food assistance to returnees of Bellopojë / Belopolje. While Italian KFOR expressed interest in seizing with food assistance, they were unable to state when they would stop providing the beneficiaries with food. RRU has consulted widely on this issue and deems this problem to be of secondary importance at the moment. In the near future, after the destroyed houses are reconstructed, a more sustainable solution should be implemented where direct food assistance is phrased out and replaced by normal self-reliant methods of securing food.
Further on Bellopojë / Belopolje, Italian KFOR finished with the rehabilitation of the Community Center, while DRC furnished the Center to be used as a Temporary Shelter until the burnt and damaged houses are reconstructed by PISG.
. Istok/Istog
RRU met the President of Istog/k to take stock of returns projects in the municipality post March 17th. The President stated, that while not diminishing the March 17th - 19th events, he was pleased that his municipality was not severely affected. He also noted that we should not treat the municipality in isolation, but remained optimistic that all projects, (particularly Kosh/Kos) in the pipeline should continue. To this end, RRU will schedule a series of meetings with DRC (for the Kosh/Kos project) and EP (for the Istog/k Concept Paper - Dragolec / Dragoljevac, Gurrakoc / Djurakovac, Bellopojë / Belopolje , Lug / Ljug) to reevaluate where we stand, vis-a-vis, implementation process.
RRU also met with the Director for Economy on April 13th to follow-up on GAR project (Ashpalting and Rehabilitation of Istog/k - Dubravë / Dubrava - Veriq / Veric). The director stated that the project documents would be ready in about two weeks and requested RRU to follow-up with the quick implementation of the project.
. Gjakovë/Šakovica
Following the GIV undertaken by the Municipal Assembly President, Additional Deputy President and MR with ICMC on April 8th to Podgorica, the MR has communicated to the RRU that Stage I of the Concept Paper for Gjakovë/Šakovica is ready for implementation. It was further reported that the Municipal President and the Municipal Representative had each written separately to THW providing reassurance on security for the returnees. It is now hoped that the German authorities will approve the construction component of the project by the end of the month, so that work can begin in mid-May.
However, it is the understanding of the RRU that the project should proceed once all the funding has been secured. From the RRU side, it is expected that this project should be favorably reviewed and prioritized because of its potential breakthrough impact in the municipality, its urban character, and the staunch support of the Municipality. The project presented by ICMC and THW, and strongly endorsed by the municipality will benefit the Egyptian and Roma IDPs, and accordingly needs to be funded in the very near future.
. Klinë/a
RRU visited Binxhë / Biça and Grapc / Grabac on April 15th to monitor the situation, while representatives of both villages expressed concern about the situation post March 17th, they requested follow-up on agricultural needs such as fertilizer. RRU has checked with Care international and confirmed that Care has already assessed agricultural needs and will provide them under the START II project as part of a dialogue initiative reached with representatives of Binxhë / Biça, Grapc / Grabac and Shtupel on March 15th. Other equipments needs have been identified by ICMC and forwarded ORC. RRU would also forward equipment needs to implementing partners (NGOs) in situ to assess level and measure of need and incorporate intervention within on going projects (i.e., DRC, ICMC and CARE meet needs in specific area of operation).