National Humanitarian Coordination no. 10

NATIONAL HUMANITARIAN CO-ORDINATION

10th Co-ordination Meeting
20th September 2001

Agenda

1. General overview
2. Problems

Mr. Boge Cadinovski briefed all those present representatives on last week's activities. The reconstruction of some schools has begun and most of the people went back in Brnjarci.
Unfortunately the lack of confidence is so obvious that this need to be solved as soon as possible. With regard to that the Chairman stressed that it was necessary to distribute humanitarian assistance equally among the different ethnic groups.

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Flora Latifi, President's cabinet, informed the meeting that upon President's cabinet initiative, collaboration with Local Non-governmental Humanitarian Organizations, International Organizations, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and its municipalities units as well as with the UN Agencies was established in order to co-ordinate the humanitarian assistance. She also stressed that only an organized approach will restore IDP' s faith in institutions.

Sami Bislimi, Ministry of trade, informed the meeting that National Strategy for Damage Assessment and Reconstruction that has been developed by the responsible Ministries and The Institute for Statistics, is now in Governmental procedure in order to be approved.
His impressions were that IDPs' problems were multi-dimensional and besides the basic need for food and shelter, the need for freedom of movement was also important. He appealed to all present parties to treat the citizens in need with equal care regardless their ethnicity, so that the mutual confidence would be rebuild.

Zola Dowell, UN OCHA, briefed those present on the regular sector host families meetings, held each Friday, where possible solutions for the distribution of winter clothing and shoes to IDPs were discussed. Hopefully next week she will have additional information to share.

Elke Wisch, UNICEF, presented to the meeting new Head of UNICEF Office, Ms. Debora Comini. UNICEF is expecting the total number of IDP children next week when the distribution of free textbooks will begin. UNICEF considered the lack of freedom of movement as a major problem that should be addressed. The psychosocial working group was establishing mobile teams and SOS line.

UNICEF WES expert was closely collaborating with UNHCR and IMG for the WES damage assessment.

Cristina Profilli, WHO, briefed that joint WHO, UNHCR, and The Republic Institute of Health Protection team were currently visiting Ljubanci and Ljuboten.
WHO continues its essential drug support to the pharmacies in Kumanovo and Skopje. A new shipment of drugs has arrived in the country. A consultant for the joint Ministry of Health assessment of the health capacities in the conflict areas, is expected to come next week.

Steve Ainsworth, DFID, emphasized that freedom of movement is one of the basic human needs and when satisfied can relax the interethnic relations more then any other humanitarian assistance.

Aleksandar Krzalovski, MCIC, NGO Humanitarian Co-ordination, informed the meeting that they have tried to follow the procedure regarding the WAT exemption distributed by the Ministry of Finance, but it was not successful. He announced that MCIC has created a web site www.aidmacedonia.org.mk and invited all organizations to share information and documents on line.

Evka Topuzovska, OOZM, NGO Humanitarian Co-ordination, emphasized that co-ordination of the textbook distribution between UNICEF, Elementary Schools and Ministry of Education is necessary. She stressed that children need winter clothing and this need should be met as soon as possible for the children not to feel less worthy, and be more comfortable in the new surrounding.

On the last NGO Humanitarian Co-ordination meeting, UNICEF representative was present, which was very good and she thinks that such collaboration should continue in the future.

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Follow up activities for issues from the previous meeting

Suzana Paunovska, MRC, informed the meeting that since 9th of September 2001 people from villages of Ekonomija, Rasce, Jazince, Brnjarci and city of Tetovo (except settlement 87) were de-registered. Starting from 1st of October 2001 registration will be continued under certain criteria that needs to be worked out with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

On the meeting held the previous day MRC, ICRC, and IFRC representatives, four criteria were agreed upon which registration will continue in the next two weeks:

1. Persons that have destroyed or burned out house
   - Persons that haven't been registered so far and have been internally displaced in the country
   · Persons that haven't been registered so far and are returnees
   
   In order to be registered under this category persons should have proof (document signed from their municipality) that their house has been destroyed or burned out. Persons that cannot obtain this document will not be registered in the next two weeks.
   
   
2. Persons that have a letter signed by ICRC
   
   
3. Free assessment in consultation with the Macedonian Read Cross (for special cases only)
   
   
4. Persons that have medical documentation
   

Persons under 1- 3 will receive everything that is distributed as humanitarian assistance. Persons registered under 4 will only receive registration prove in order to obtain free medical treatment.

Returnees from Kosovo that can not be registered under any of the four above-mentioned criteria will be registered on a separate list.

New Issues

• The chairman asked everybody to consider that organization of transport for IDPs on the route Kumanovo- Skopje-Kumanovo as well as Skopje-Tetovo is needed.
  
  
• The chairman informed about the food request given from the people from Drenovec 1 and 2 and village of Poroj.
  
  
• The Chairman reminded everybody that autumn is closing in and asked for winter clothing to be provided for IDPs.
  
  
• Aleksandar Krzalovski, MCIC, NGO Humanitarian Co-ordination, asked accreditation that will assure freedom of movement, to be issued to the Local Non-governmental Humanitarian Organizations.
  
  
• Aleksandar Krzalovski, MCIC, NGO Humanitarian Co-ordination, asked for Local Non-governmental Humanitarian Organizations to be released of pay toll.
  

Previous Coordination Reports

• 9th Coordinative meeting [13 Sep 2001]
• 8th Coordinative meeting [6 Sep 2001]
• 7th Coordinative meeting [30 Aug 2001]
• 5th Coordinative meeting [16 Aug 2001]
• 4th Coordinative meeting [8 Aug 2001]
• 3rd Coordinative meeting [26 Jul 2001]
• 2nd Coordinative meeting [19 Jul 2001]
• 1st Coordinative meeting [11 Jul 2001]