BRIEFING BY HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, EXCLUDING KOSOVO
Press Briefing
BRIEFING BY HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, EXCLUDING KOSOVO
19991104Steven Allen, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (excluding Kosovo), told correspondents at a press briefing this afternoon that poverty in that country was on the increase.
He said the percentage of the population living on a monthly income of 100 DM or less (US $60) had increased from 33 per cent in July 1998 to 60 per cent in September 1999. Those most at risk were pensioners, urban poor, single-parent households and families with more than three children. The national health insurance fund was on the verge of collapse, which had serious implications for the poor, who would have less access to health, and issue of particular concern in view of the coming winter.
A continuing preoccupation, he said, was the problem of internally displaced persons (IDP) from Kosovo. The Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) planned to conduct a registration of IDPs in Serbia and Montenegro. The present estimate was that there were 220,000 such persons. The UNHCR was convinced that the figure exceeded 150,000 but it was necessary to get a better fix. The continuing caseload of refugees from the Bosnia conflict remained a concern, he added.
Of a particular concern was the enrollment of children in primary school, he went on. At present only 50 per cent of IDP children were in school. The issue was one of lack of resources - rooms, classes, furniture and teaching materials.
Another concern was the energy situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had released a series of analyses on energy problems there, particularly regarding electricity. There had been short-term positive developments. Refineries that had recently been repaired had refined some petroleum products, although there was concern since they were drawing on reserves that their output would not be sustained through the winter. Another positive development was that gas had begun to flow from the Russian Federation through Hungary to Serbia and Bosnia.
He said the OCHA operation in Belgrade was participating in the United Nations consolidated appeal process. The OCHAs goals for the year 2000 included: delivery of targeted assistance for those most vulnerable due to the effects of conflict, economic decline and shortages in essential public services; assistance for the continued functioning of essential public services, particularly in winter; promotion and support of durable solutions for the approximately 700,000 refugees and IDPS; monitoring and assessing humanitarian needs; disseminating information; and advocating for humanitarian responses in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Allen Press Briefing - 2 - 4 November 1999
He said that, in the follow-up to the United Nations assessment of environmental consequences of the Kosovo conflict, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) proposals would be included in the humanitarian appeal. He encouraged donors to support responses for the four environmental hot spots identified by the Balkan task force.
A correspondent asked what was the impact of the United States opposition to assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. How would the people of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia cope in the winter?
Mr. Allen said the United States was against reconstruction and development aid. Energy for democracy was a political issue and not a humanitarian one. He was concerned that some of the signals from various capitals were not encouraging with regard to humanitarian assistance. He would continue to advocate for the broadest interpretation of humanitarian aid, which was provided for under United Nations sanctions regimes, as well as by the European Union. It was important that there be a clearer understanding of the needs and that they be communicated to a wider audience.
Continuing, he said there was an increasing interest among certain donors in becoming actively involved in humanitarian issues in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, excluding Kosovo. There was a readiness to provided humanitarian assistance to the Republic of Montenegro.
Asked to clarify the figures concerning the influx of refugees into Serbia and Montenegro during the Bosnia conflict, he said the figures varied. One set of numbers referred to the people who had entered the country - about 700,000; other numbers referred only to those who required assistance - approximately 500,000.
A correspondent asked Mr. Allen to explain what a durable solution for refugees was. Mr. Allen said a durable solution could mean repatriation, resettlement or local integration into wherever they found themselves.
How much was he looking for from the consolidated appeal and how optimistic was he about getting it? a correspondent asked.
Mr. Allen said the draft figure was $208 million for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, excluding Kosovo. There was another, larger figure for Kosovo. This year, funding had been healthy, particularly for the World Food Programme, UNHCR and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The one agency about which there was concern was the World Health Organization (WHO). Broadly speaking, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, excluding Kosovo, had received approximately 70 per cent of requested funding. He would continue to advocate that assistance not be linked to political conditionalities.
Did the appeal for a broader definition of broader humanitarian aid include heating oil and the rebuilding of houses that had been destroyed?
Heating oil was included, he said. That need continued and would probably expand. The range of assistance focused on immediate needs such as shelter,
Allen Press Briefing - 3 - 4 November 1999
health and school. Relatively few houses had been destroyed, so that was not a major consideration.
In response to a question, he said he had not heard of any connection between response to humanitarian needs and the actions of the International Court of Justice.
How much did the lack of reconstruction and the lack of jobs add to the humanitarian crisis? a correspondent asked.
Unemployment was definitely a factor, but there had been a high level of unemployment before the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations, Mr. Allen said. Smaller bridges were being reconstructed or detoured, but for the most part, that did not affect the distribution of humanitarian assistance. That assistance was needed regardless of reconstruction, he emphasized.
Of the $208 million appeal, how much would go to Montenegro and how much to Serbia? He replied that there was not an explicit division, as many of the items did not lend themselves to geographic splitting. For instance, $70 million was for UNHCR and those funds would go where the refugees and IDPS were.
Asked to describe the working relationship between his office and the Government of Yugoslavia, he said there was a daily dialogue with the Government on humanitarian issues. They were able to work constructively on those issues. The situation in Kosovo had a bearing on his work, but the Government did not look to his office to address that issue.
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