A total of 43 UNHCR QIPs with approximately US$ 500,000 funding are active so far. The UNHCR QIPs selection committee approved 14 new proposals yesterday, 7 of which are pending technical assessment. The newly approved proposals include school rehabilitation in Bojane, Gorjane and Karpos, water works in Sipkovica and Brodec and provision of agricultural tools for Kumanovo area. QIPs funds have been allocated for the Open Society Institute proposal for an NGO Council Congress too.

Community Projects Matrix is being updated and will be shared on Monday, 13 May.

Due to UNICEF’s absence, update will be provided in the next meeting.

The opening ceremony of the 3 ambulantas in Lipkovo (Matejce, Slupcane and Nikuštak), rehabilitated by ECHO/Solidarites, took place yesterday. On the night before the opening ceremony, a hand grenade was thrown at the ambulanta in Matejce. As it is located in the same building as the Mayor’s office, it is possible that the attack was aimed at the local authorities.

ARC mobile medical teams are providing health services in the 3 Lipkovo ambulantas, with 70-80 patients served per day. 4 additional IRC mobile medical teams will be deployed in the most needy areas, including Radusa, next week.

In reply to a question, WHO explained that the Ministry of Health has difficulties to hire medical doctors for the ambulantas in Lipkovo not because of lack of ethnic Albanian medical staff required by the residents, but due to their reluctance to work in small village ambulantas, or non-eligibility due to holding diplomas from non-recognised universities.

WHO highlighted that, while the international agencies focus on the conflict areas, the government rehabilitation priorities concern the entire country. WHO has received a number of requests for minor repair of ambulantas outside the conflict areas (that suffer from poor general maintenance or have no heating) and is inviting agencies to consider possibilities to undertake works. This would strike balance between the conflict areas and the rest of the country and contribute to confidence building. Details are available from the WHO office. The Chair noted that UNHCR can not assist, but that other agencies should consider addressing these requests.

Due to UNDP’s absence, update will be provided in the next meeting.

150 projects were entered so far from the conflict areas, with data on each sector broken down by municipality. Last week USAID provided information on all their projects, while IOM/CBI provided data on 50 additional projects. Entries are also being made of projects completed in the last 6 months, with UNHCR 2001 QIPs Programme missing. UNHCR noted will provide these data shortly.

Information from EAR is still missing. IMG will place direct project data request with them.

2 weeks ago, the Humanitarian Coordinator, UNHCR and IMG met with EU and EU Member States’ ambassadors in Skopje to present the appeal by OCHA that highlights urgent funding needs including € 16 million for reconstruction of 909 Cat 3 and 4 houses that were not covered to date. The Dutch Embassy announced possibility to commit € 10 million, while the German Embassy informed is considering to cover € 2 – 3 million. The Dutch Government has since committed € 2 million, earmarked for Neprosteno, Tearce Municipality, and for Skopska Crna Gora villages. An assessment is ongoing of the targeted areas to ascertain villages and exact number of houses to be covered from these funds.

The return of some 5 – 6,000 people depends on the reconstruction of these houses. Housing has been identified as one of the main obstacles to sustainable return, and OCHA continues efforts to raise the remaining € 14 million. If funds are not committed urgently, within 2 weeks, construction season will be lost and reconstruction will not be done in 2002.

DRC/UNHCR reported that assessment of Tetovo town, Lavce and Aracinovo are being completed with glass works to be finished next week. Preparations are underway for start of Phase 2 deliveries. Progress report came in today on the installation of materials delivered in Phase 1, that proceeds at good pace. IRC/UNHCR is completing the assessment of additional 500 houses. Strima, Tanusevce and Malina Maala, Skopska Crna Gora, were not assessed due to security concerns.

Updated AoR spreadsheet was presented.

Re-assessment has been completed in the field. Data is being processed and report should be available within a week.

Printouts of the damage assessment report by category was shared, with entries on several re-assessed municipalities already in.

Tanusevci has been declared off limits due to UXO / mines presence. UNMAS and FSO, UNHCR, assessment mission on 9 May found out that UXO / mines and booby trap risk is high in Tanusevci and advised agencies not to travel to this village.

The next Infrastructure / Rehabilitation meeting will take place on Friday, 24 May 2002, at 11:00 hours at the UNHCR Office.