Kosovo Refugees Struggle in Overcrowded Camps

Strategic Insights -

Tensions are running high in over-crowded camps in Macedonia, home to over 241,000 Kosovo refugees, as resources dwindle and the UNHCR warns of possible unrest. Despite high-profile visits by celebrities and heads of state, the refugees' needs continue to outstrip available aid, with only about half of the promised $143 million received and much of that money already spent. Unless new sources of funding are secured, the UNHCR may not be able to provide for the basic needs of those in the camps.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UNHCR is running out of cash to care for the 241,000 Kosovo refugees who have fled to Macedonia, warning of possible unrest in the overcrowded camps.
  • Only about half of the promised $143 million in aid has been received, and much of that money has already been spent.
  • Unless new sources of money are found in the coming weeks, the UNHCR will not be able to provide for the basic needs of those in the camps.
  • The Stenkovec camp, home to 65,000 refugees, has been a focal point of tension, with demonstrations and arrests by Macedonian police.
  • The Macedonian authorities have promised to deploy more ethnic Albanian police in the camps, patrol in a more discrete manner, and control access to the camp.
  • More than 30,000 refugees are crammed into the Cegrane camp, despite inadequate sanitation and water systems.
  • The UNHCR wants to move 60,000 refugees out of Macedonia to Albania, but only 150 indicated they were willing to go on the scheduled transfer day.
  • The plan to airlift refugees to other countries continues, but at a slower pace than initially envisioned, with fewer than 1,000 people flown out most days.
  • Local analysts suspect that the sharp decline in refugees fleeing Kosovo may be due to an agreement between Macedonian and Serbian police to close the border and force refugees back into Kosovo.

Statistics:

  • 241,000: Number of Kosovo refugees in Macedonia
  • $143 million: Promised aid for the refugees
  • 50%: Proportion of promised aid that has been received
  • 65,000: Number of refugees in the Stenkovec camp
  • 30,000: Number of refugees in the Cegrane camp
  • 600: Number of refugees scheduled to be transferred to Albania on a given day
  • 150: Number of refugees willing to be transferred to Albania on the scheduled transfer day
  • 1,000: Number of people flown out of Macedonia most days
  • 15,000: Number of refugees who arrived in Macedonia within a 24-hour period two weeks ago
  • 70,000: Estimated number of refugees close to the border
  • 12: Number of refugees entering the country each day at the main Blace crossing

Sources:

  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva and Skopje
  • Global Beat Syndicate
  • Fokus weekly
  • Institute for War & Peace Reporting
  • PressLink Online
  • Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services