Regional Weekly Update - ORC nedeljnik
11 -17 September - MITROVICA REGION
• The Albanian IDP representative holds that his community's situation post-March in the North does not have an equal status. • An agricultural project in Novo Selo/Maxhunaj will benefit the both communities. |
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The Mitrovica MWG meeting was held on 13 September. The MR/UAM head of office briefed on the post-March IDP situation in the municipality. As regards the situation of Obilic IDPs in North Mitrovica , 32 IDPs are hosted in new Branko School , 47 IDPs in the Technical Schools and 45 IDPs in private accommodation. UNHCR informed the MWG that they would continue to provide emergency assistance. The Albanian IDP representative made a strong statement regarding what he viewed as too much attention focused on the Serb IDP situation and post-March Serb IDP reconstruction process, compared to the Albanian community's continuing concerns. According to him, 28 Albanian houses had reportedly been destroyed in the North as a result of the March events, and no efforts had been deployed to address the Albanian IDP community situation post-March. The municipal local authority also claimed that the Municipal Reconstruction Committee did not have the freedom of movement to make a proper assessment of the destroyed houses in North Mitrovica . The MR informed that the draft urban plan for Roma Mahalla was ready to be handed over to the Municipality. NCA briefed on progress made with regard to the 2 Korriku/Sitnica return project. NCA is working on the potential return of 17 Ashkali according to a multi-sectoral project including the reconstruction of houses, job creation and infrastructure needs. The project will also include community assistance for the 17 current illegal Albanian tenants of the Ashkali houses and assistance for the Albanians' return to their original homes. The Albanian representative reported that the Albanian community in the North had formed a group of citizens to demand the return of Albanian IDPs to the North, reconstruction of their houses and security and freedom of movement for all inhabitants regardless of their ethnic origins. The Vushtrri/Vucitrn MWG convened on 16 September. The meeting was attended by the newly selected Municipal Returns Officers, as well as the Albanian village council representatives. CARE reported on the funding, under the GAR program, of an agricultural project in Novo Selo/Maxhunaj that will benefit both the Serb and Albanian communities. The Municipal President reported on a meeting with Serb village representatives in the village of Prilluzje where 11 reconstructed houses had been handed over to the beneficiaries. LWF gave an update on the programme of reconstruction of Ashkali properties, under which 62 TPAs had been signed so far. 'Mercy Corps' informed that their assistance project facilitating spontaneous returns would be extended and confirmed that post-march IDPs/returnees could be included and assisted under the GAR program. The Municipal President also asked for more engagement in the implementation of the multi-ethnic water project in Banjska before the winter.
A security meeting with 20 representatives of the IDP Obiliq/Obilic community currently staying in Mitrovica North took place on 16 September in Obiliq/Obilic. KFOR reported that further checkpoints had been installed according to a plan submitted at the request of the IDPs. The Obilic additional Deputy President reported that 14 houses out of 81 have been reconstracted so far. The UMCOR representative presented the temporary community shelters plan to accommodate 54 individuals. The IDPs declared that the €2000 start-up kits would not cover their basic material losses and the community at large refused to return to Obilic due to their concerns over the security situation there and the fact that none of the crimes committed in Obilic over a period of years had been solved by the police.
The Brajshori Commission facilitated an evaluation by independent engineers of the reconstruction defects in the village of Frashe/Svinjare . The assessment took place on 15 and 16 September. The list of 47 houses was finalised, with 3 additional beneficiaries not listed (totalling 50 houses) who were assessed in the village.
Contact: Heather Felsinger, Phone: (038)504604/ext.:7311, E-mail: felsinger@un.org