Shelter Coordination Meeting

Sectoral Co-ordination Meeting on Shelter

Tuesday, 11th September 2001 (09:00h -10:00h)
Chaired by Dr. Tom Corsellis UNHCR Shelter Co-ordinator

In attendance were:

Dr. Tom Corsellis - UNHCR
Ms. E. Misic - UNICEF
Mr. Y. Fangire - UNICEF
Mr. V. Georgiev - IOM
Ms. S. Pesic - OCHA
Ms. V. Andreeva
Ms. A. Hans - PRM/US Embassy
Mr. K. Carew - US Embassy
Mr. S. Ainsworth - DFID
Mr. A. Talmon-l'Armee - IMG
Mr. B. Silvestrini - IMG
Ms. D. Kostovska - CARE
Ms. V. Hallas - DRC
Mr. M. Elliot - Oxfam
Mr. N. Koolik - IRC
Mr. A. Krzalovski - MCIC
Mr. G.Laskaris- European Perspective
Mr. J. Srodecky - World Vision Int.
Mr. S. Taylor - Mercy Corps
Mr. N. Kasami - Solidarites
Mr.N.Scott-Flynn-Save the Children UK
Mr. L. Markic - MICS
Ms. B. Schweighoter - Malteser
Ms. G. Toschi - Movimondo
Mr. G. Grussu - Movimondo

Introductory remarks:
Note was made that meeting was replacing the regular one of Friday, 07 September which fell on a UN Holiday.

The Chair briefed the meeting that an estimate of building damage was made by IRC on request by UNHCR. It was based on data collected on 10,000 houses assessed within the Rapid Village Assessment (RVA) so far, which were then projected to the total of 35,000 houses in targeted villages. Resulting indications showed that the initially expected number of a total of 3-5,000 damaged buildings could in fact range between 7 - 15,000.

The Chair proposed the following agenda for discussion:

1. Housing
   - report from joint assessment (IRC/Shelter Now Int.) and IMG assessment strategy (IMG)
   - regional repair meetings concerning Skopje, Kumanovo and Tetovo
   - implementation meetings (B.Q., incentives, tripartite)
   
   
2. Schools and ambulanta
   - schools, activities underway and proposed (UNICEF)
   - ambulanta, activities underway and proposed
   
   
3. Report on utilities and strategy
   - water, electricity, telephones (Government Expert Team Member)
   - projection and consistent message (Government Expert Team Member
   
   
4. IDPs with host families (HF)
   - shelter upgrading (European Perspective)
   - blanket support packages (SDR)
   
   
5. IDPs in collective centres (CCs)
   - activities underway (IRC)
   - activities proposed
   - contingency planning
   
   
6. Refugees
   - return and accommodation
   
   
7. Issues from the floor

1) Housing damage assessment

1.1 Joint assessment (JA) and IMG assessment strategy

IMG reported on the joint assessment (JA) by IRC and Shelter Now that was completed at the v. of Lopate and Brnjarce and was close to completing at v. of Aracinovo. IMG has organised its work in 4 sectors: housing damage assessments, electricity, transport and water. Mr. Bruno Silvestrini was appointed Team Leader (TL) for housing damage assessments. He briefed the meeting that, at the recommendation by the Government, the JA started in Tetovo area villages the day before and was to scale up going towards East. TL was to meet later that day with Mr. Trombev from the Ministry of Communications and Transport to discuss Government priorities.

TL reported that 29 houses at the Tetovo v. or Tearce were assessed on the day before with some difficulty as local authorities were reluctant to show cat. 3-4 houses belonging to Macedonians. Security concerns remained high in the area with ongoing burning of houses and refusal by local authorities to go to high risk areas, e.g. to the v. of Neprosteno. This raised concerns about the validity of all assessment results.

Movi Mondo stressed it would not start to plan reconstruction at v. of Aracinovo, before Government strategy was finalised and all necessary details on the standard of reconstruction, list of beneficiaries, co-ordination and similar issues were cleared.

ECHO raised the question on reconstruction of illegally built houses. It was said in reply that the Government was still to decide in that regard and that Mr. Trombev would advise as soon as decision was taken.

1.2 Regional repair meetings concerning Skopje, Kumanovo and Tetovo regions

The Chair explained these one-off meetings were aimed to clarify availability of funds and capacities for repair and closer co-ordinate action among interested actors. In addition to Shelter Now, the following agencies reported their involvement in repair activities: MCIC reported was to become operational within days in small repair activities only; IRC was operational and was planning to upgrade a total of 400 houses; and, Mercy Corps Int'l (MC) was preparing for activities and had staffing in progress.

1.3 Implementation meetings

The Chair briefed that the idea of the meeting was to assure that all of the agencies involved and active in the sector were following same rules, as well as ascertain if some of them would be needing orientation training for their staff. It that respect, MCIC noted it would have no need of training as it had experienced staff on board. Moreover, its involvement would take a self-help approach and not go into contracting. MC would in turn need group training for the staff that was being hired. Further on concerned agencies gave details on strategies planned in view of using incentives, targeting vulnerable population and methods of work.

As regarded bills of quantity, the Chair explained that sharing of such information among interested and concerned agencies would give good base for preparing project proposals. MCIC noted average repair budget per house would be 1,500 German Marks (approximately 700$), and would be available upon presentation of results of detailed house-to-house assessment. Agencies further reported their reconstruction capacities.

In respect of the multiparty, i.e. tripartite and quatra-partite agreements that were usually used in the implementation, the Chair stressed the importance of sharing such experiences in order to find proper ways to define legal framework for the implementation process and provide roughly consistent programmes. Concerned agencies briefed on respective experiences with different multiparty agreements. IMG observed the issue on the tripartite had not been discussed with the Government and suggested that it should be presented to the Government to facilitate their decision.

Note was made that a meeting with the Government representatives would be held on Wednesday, 12 September at 17:00 hours. It was further decided a one-off meeting on implementation strategies be held among concerned agencies on 17 September at 19:00 hours.

2) Schools and Ambulanta

Solidarite reported on the progress in upgrading of the 2 Arachinovo schools. Rehabilitation of the old 3-building school started. The small 6-classroom building would be completed in a week, while the other 2 could be finished within 3 weeks at the most. Assessment of damage at the new school was in progress. Solidarite experienced problems in obtaining access permissions to the village. Mr. Biondi of ECHO noted that should have not happened as Mr. Trombev of the Ministry gave assurances all necessary permits would be issued without delays. UNICEF proposed temporary solution to place the new school in tents until the building was ready and offered tents from its stocks.

MCIC had completed upgrading of v. of Brnjarce school (light damage from 1 grenade hit). The Government was to assist return to Brnjarce, if the displaced villagers could be persuaded to go back to their homes. MCIC further reported there was no damage on the school in Lopate.

UNICEF reported of the 03 September meeting of the one-off working Group on education/schools at which assessment was made of the damaged schools in Kumanovo region . of the expressed concern that the school year had not started at schools in the conflict areas. One of the reasons was that buildings that suffered damages were not repaired. UNICEF stressed that most important under the given circumstances was to make an assessment of the situation and prioritise roughly the needs. Observation was made that sufficient data existed from the field that just needed be systematised. Participants were invited to prepare their contributions and hand them out to UNICEF for the Thursday sectoral meeting on Education.

Mr. Biondi reiterated that ECHO had capacity for rehabilitation of more schools, but that funds could only be used if assessment results were presented.

3) Report on utilities and strategy

As the Government Expert Team representative who was to brief the meeting did not take part, the meeting went on to agenda point 4.

4) IDPs at Host Families

Due time restraint meeting went on to agenda point 5.

5) IDPs in Collective Centres (CCs)

IRC reported that the CC in the v. of Dolno Konjare was assessed. Agencies reported interest in taking up minor repairs at CCs. Mr Biondi reported that ECHO would be interested only in case that there would be urgent need to accommodate IDPs moved from CCs located at student boarding houses.

Agenda point 6 was not discussed due absence of presenter, while no issue was raised from the floor.

Summary of Agreed Action points:

• IRC will share its experience and data from the Aracinovo JA with IMG.
  
• One-off meetings will be held to facilitate co-ordination or regional repair and implementation of rehabilitation shelter activities. Details of the meetings are attached in the summary sheet of the meeting
  
• Participants are to provide available data and information on damage of school buildings in crisis regions of Skopje and Tetovo to UNICEF for the Thursday sectoral co-ordination meeting on Education.
  
• As of next Friday, due to availability of meeting hall, Shelter Meetings will start at 09:15 hours.
  
• The next Shelter meeting will take place on Friday 14 September at 09:15 at UNHCR Meeting Hall
  
  

Appendix 1: Housing damage assessment (Implementation)
Appendix 2: Assessment of Damaged Schools, Kumanovo Region


Previous reports

• Shelter coordination meeting [11 Sep 2001]
• Shelter sub-coordination meeting [17 Aug 2001]
  
• Shelter coordination meeting [14 Aug 2001]