FAO SENDS MISSION TO ALBANIA AND FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Press Release
SAG/25
FAO SENDS MISSION TO ALBANIA AND FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
19990407 ROME, 7 April (FAO) -- An assessment mission of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has left for Albania and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia today, the United Nations agency announced in a statement."The mission will assess the needs of the large influx of refugees and their hosting families and will review the urgent agricultural assistance required in order to secure increased food production during spring and summer", the FAO said. The mission will liaise closely with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the governments.
The FAO's goal is to assist Albania and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in coping with the large influx of refugees by increasing local food supply. This could be done through the production of short-term crops such as vegetables, potatoes, maize and backyard poultry, the FAO said.
Inquiries should be directed to: FAO Media Office (Media- Office@fao.org); Erwin Northoff, 0039-06-5705-3105/3625; e-mail: Erwin.Northoff@FAO.org.
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