The Chair proposed the following agenda:

IMG added that the EU Special Representative Le Roy visited Aracinovo and Matejce conveyed a message that acts of violence should be prevented in the future.

The number of uncovered Cat 3 and Cat 4 houses has slightly increased and, according to the latest AoR data available within the group, the actual gap is estimated at 95 Cat 3 and 453 Cat 4 houses the reconstruction of which some € 7 to 8 million are needed. The estimation of the needs is to be considered at the Donor Conference on fYROM on 12 March in Brussels.

The participants were asked for final comments to the current estimation of funding gaps. No new commitments were reported, while concerns were expressed (Solidarites) that current figures do not reflect correctly the Skopska Crna Gora and Lipkovo municipality damage which may be higher than estimated. IMG commented that its submission to Brussels is € 8.3 million, i.e. 10% higher than the AoR data and should be sufficient to cover these and other eventual gaps.

The latest updates of the AoR and the Progress in Repair and Reconstruction spreadsheets were presented. Agencies’ comments were invited, based on which new updates will be made.

Some comments were made on further adjustments in the new AoR format.

ADRA informed that in Brezno 60 houses in all categories were damaged and that funds were available only for 2, as that was the figure reported earlier. Police re-entered the village and the people were eager to return. Agencies are thus invited to express interest for undertaking the repair and reconstruction needed. Contact details for the villagers are available from ADRA.

IMG reported that EC commissioned the funds for the 3-month assignment for reassessment and update of the 2001 IMG housing damage assessment. Assessment will start on Monday, covering as first priority the formerly inaccessible areas that were not covered at all, then will continue with the estimates, where no physical assessment took place, and will finish with houses that were physically assessed. The first assessment report will be submitted before the Donor Conference on 12 March 2002. Brezno can be visited as a priority against a formal request note.

Later on, IMG will carry out a comprehensive assessment that will include social buildings, schools and ambulanta, infrastructure and transport as well as religious and cultural objects.

CRIM will be consulted on revising/confirming the list of villages included in the AoR.

Update of the informal coordination of the progress of the school and ambulanta rehabilitation was not made. This and data from various spreadsheets, databases and matrixes are currently being combined in a common database that will serve the transition framework process (more details in AOB below).

Ms Theresa Obradovich announced that the criteria and the application forms were not finalised yet and will be shared additionally. The contract with CRS was also not signed yet due to absence of relevant UNHCR persons. Interested agencies that are aware of projects that could be covered with QIPs are encouraged to contact UNHCR Teams in the field. Urgent projects can be communicated to Ms Obradovich directly.

The Chair briefed shortly on the ongoing participatory discussions among the UN Country Team, International NGO Council, donors, OSCE and other partners on the transitional framework from relief to development. Priorities including removing obstacles to return through reconstruction of housing damage, providing access to education, health and other services and building confidence in the local institutions through economic development programmes are being set. The process of transition from relief to development will affect the existing sector groups in a way that they will continue but evolve to include new or revised sector groups that will correspond to the changing situation, moving the focus from emergency to incorporate developmental aspects.

As far as Shelter & Infrastructure is concerned, the sector group will be included in the new "Infrastructure / Rehabilitation" sector that combines infrastructure (including the former water and sanitation sector) and reconstruction. Mr Pagani will continue to Chair the group on temporary basis, until EAR is fully operational and can take over the lead. QIPs will be viewed separately, in the new "Community Self –Help" sector that will be chaired by Ms Obradovich. The first meetings of these new/modified sectors should take place next week.

DRC raised the issue of summer and weekend houses. It was highlighted that these are not to be covered with the repair and reconstruction programmes. IMG added that stables and other economy/farm objects that make part of the living conditions are though feasible for inclusion.

IMG was approached by a donor that wishes to fund rehabilitation of 5 – 6 schools. IMG is advised to contact UNICEF which is the focal point for school rehabilitation.

The next Infrastructure / Rehabilitation (Shelter/Infrastructure) Coordination meeting will take place on Friday, 1 March 2002, at 09:15 hours at the UNHCR Office.