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NATIONAL HUMANITARIAN CO-ORDINATION
Mr. Boge Cadinovski was sorry that representatives from
the Ministries and Governmental Crisis Management Body were not able to
attend this meeting. He emphasized that Ministry of Labour and Social
Policy's view is that this meeting should continue, as it is a bridge
between the local and international non-governmental organizations, UN
agencies and government. Though Ministry of Labour does have a representative
on each sector meeting, yet information should be shared with the local
NGOs on this meeting, too. For the next meeting he will try to have a
representative of Governmental Crisis Management Body. It seems that except
the regular food distributions of ICRC and MRC, noting else is happening.
There are lots of plans, but no implementation. Though he is aware of
the donors' problems yet he appealed for implementation of concrete activities
that will enhance IDPs' return and easy their life in the CCs and host
families. The chairman informed the meeting for the surprising high percentage
of host families, 71%, claming that have not received any humanitarian
assistance at all.
Sami Bislimi, Ministry of Trade, thought that IDPs'
problems are many, but most important are: shelter, food and freedom of
movement. Ministry of Trade received a request form the villages of Cosince,
Malino, Brest and Tanuvseci for humanitarian assistance, damage assessment
and organization of convoy, as these IDPs have not been there for this
past 6 months. On the meting that was organized in the Ministry the following
recommendations were reached: immediate organization of convoy, damage
assessment to be organized, provision of shelter and food, organization
of IDPs' return. Marija Kostova, Ministry of Finance, explained that such information was already given to this forum and it is still eligible. Fransoa Stern, ICRC, emphasized that villages of Cosince,
Malino, Brest and Tanuvseci, were not forgotten by them. There is a mine
treat in this area and access is not secure, but as soon as the access
is possible they will be visited. Suzana Paunovska, MRC, was surprised by the information
from the UNICEF's Host family Survey that 71 % of the host families have
received no humanitarian assistance at all. It is strange that this question
was included in the questionnaire in the first place, as in the time when
the survey was conducted there were no programs for assistance of the
families that hosted IDPs available. Zola Dowell, UN OCHA, invited everybody on the Friday's
Host family meeting on which table of planed and on- going winterization
activities of the UN Agencies and NGOs will be presented. Monique Thorman, UNICEF, said that UNICEF continuous
with the distribution of school kits and textbooks for IDP children, hoping
to complete it next week. With this distribution a total of 159 schools
will be covered. The official results from the Host Family Survey were
already presented and will be shared with this forum. The results from
the IDPs' survey will be available next week. She emphasized that this
survey was conducted in collaboration with the National Institutions as
well as with NGOs. Cristina Profili, WHO, informed the meeting that assessment
of the health facilities in the conflict areas: Skopje, Kumanovo and Tetovo
was completed. Official results will be announced next week. She thanked
UNICEF, ICRC and other local and international partners for their assistance
in the implementation of the assessment. WHO in collaboration with UNICEF,
continues its psychosocial support to IDPs trough the 4 mobile teams,
each consisted of 10 professionals trained two years ago by WHO, on a
one year stress and trauma prevention course. Dragi Zmijanac, The First Children's Embassy-Megjasi, NGO Humanitarian Co-ordination, said that he was informed that distribution of school kits and textbooks in schools in Skopje was not completed yet. He emphasized that IDP high school students need textbooks, too. Though UNICEF will provide winter clothing, still provision of a winter clothing for the adults is an issue that needs to be addressed. Dilbera Kamberovka, Daire, NGO Humanitarian Co-ordination,
raised the question for organization of transport for 3 students and 2
high school students from Kumanovo.
The chairman informed the meeting that no positive answer has been given from IOM regarding the organization of transport for IDPs on the route Kumanovo-Skopje-Kumanovo, Skopje-Tetovo, Tetovo -Skopje, as well as for the local transport in Skopje. The chairman reminded everybody that, winter is closing in and asked for winter clothing for IDPs. Also winterization of the CCs should began as soon as possible. The chairman asked Ministry of Finance to distribute the information regarding the VAT exemption, only this time to be signed by the Ministry
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