FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: EMERGENCY 18 Novem ber ASSISTANCE appeal no. 01.29/97 situation report no. 4 period covered: June - 30 September 1997 Donations totaling USD 6 million from the US Government for International Federation operations in former Yugoslavia — combined with sizeable grants from the Swedish and Norwegian Governments and Red Cross Societies — ensured that operations which were threatened with closure in Croatia and the Federal Republic (FR) Yugoslavia can be sustained for the remainder of 1997. At the end of October the Federation launched a new international advocacy campaign forFR Yugoslavia which it hopes will generate interest and a response to the ongoing needs of refugees and other vulnerable groups there. Meanwhile, in October the General Assembly of the Red Cross of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was formally constituted and elected new office holders. The following month, the General Assembly of the Red Cross of Republika Srpska was held. The context Over 808,000 beneficiaries across former Yugoslavia are receiving assistance from the region’ s National Societies working alongside the International Federation, with its network of delegations in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Zagreb, and sub-delegations in Podgorica, Pristina and Osijek/Vukovar. Latest events Bosnia-Herzegovina Following rising tensions over the summer in Republika Srpska (RS) and the stand-off between the entity president Biljana Plavsic and the Pale leadership, political and civil unrest continued emergency appeal no. 01.29/97 situation report no. 4 in September. International community support for Plavsic and SFOR’s ‘Operation Tango’ provoked retaliatory attacks on various international organisations, and SFOR troops closed down the RS’s television station following “its tasteless compilation of outright lies”. The first post-war municipal elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina were carried out peacefully — although not without some difficulties — in mid-September. Implementation of the results was deemed to be the next step in the establishment of a long-lasting peace. However the bombing of buildings continued, as did hostilities between the major ethnic groups, seriously threatening the right of return for minorities in some areas. Croatia President Franjo Tudjman was re-elected in June, with over 60% of the vote, in what was described as ‘a free, but not fair’ election by the OSCE co-ordinator, due to inadequate media coverage of some presidential candidates. The UN Security Council approved an extension of UNTAES’ mandate in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium on 14 July, with the 5,000 military personnel due to leave by 15 October 1997 and civilian control handed over to Croatian authorities by 15 January 1998. Further extensions have not been ruled out and Croatia is now under pressure to demonstrate its ability to reassure the Serb population and successfully complete peaceful reintegration. Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Following Slobodan Milosevic’s election in July as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the summer saw intense political activity in Serbia and Montenegro leading up to presidential and parliamentary elections in September for Serbia and in October for Montenegro. Tensions rose in Kosovo with bomb attacks against police stations, and a one day student protest by ethnic Albanians protesting against the absence of an agreement on the return of Albanian pupils to schools and universities. Away from the political scene, the health situation in FR Yugoslavia continues to deteriorate. In Novi Pazar (south of Belgrade) more than 100 cases of hepatitis A were reported. State pharmacies are being emptied by anxious customers, whereas private pharmacy prices continue to rocket. In some hospitals patients are being asked to bring their own dressing materials, antibiotics and other medical supplies. Red Cross/Red Crescent a ction. Bosnia-Herzegovina Home Care and Secondary Health The Home Care Programme continued to operate well in the Federation entity (FBH) based on good coordination with cantonal coordinators/supervisors concerning future plans, beneficiary and activist needs and new activist placement. In spite of certain coordination problems in the Republika Srpska entity (RS), the programme was running well at ground level and a first meeting for Home Care coordinators in the entity was held in August. In June 135,000 ECHO-sponsored incontinence diapers were distributed to Home Care beneficiaries throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina, followed by the distribution of a further 133,236 in August/ September. In addition 2,700 Netherlands Red Cross-sponsored elderly aid parcels were distributed in RS in June and 4,547 Icelandic Red Cross-funded elderly aid parcels in FBH in September. By the end of August dental programmes were up and running in all 11 proposed locations. Home Care Statistics for June-September 1997 2 emergency appeal no. 01.29/97 situation report no. 4 June July August September FBH RS FBH RS FBH RS FBH RS Total Volunteers 451 366 451 366 457 366 457 366 Monthly 5,739 4,146 5,815 4,273 5,785 6,961 5,659 7,409 Beneficiaries Monthly Visits 27,404 14,587 26,218 16,125 27,221 23,465 27,343 24,248 Medical Referrals 2,203 160 2,407 128 1,879 233 1,599 240 Relief and Rehabilitation By the end of September a total of 29 Mobile Technical Teams (MTTs) were operational, with the handover of tools and vehicles for the new Orasje and the second Gorazde teams. Additional tools were purchased to increase and enhance the work of the MTTs. Purchase contracts were signed for the procurement — under the ECHO 2 contract — of 4,000 cubic metres of firewood for 1,000 beneficiaries. Institutional Development General Assemblies were held in Cantons 7 and 10 in September and representatives elected to the Red Cross of FBH General Assembly which was held in mid-October (further details in the next Situation Report). Support was provided for the blood donor programmes of the Zenica cantonal RC and the Konjic RC branch. Funds were also provided for two blood donor recruitment seminars and public information materials. In September the entity Red Cross in RS held its ‘Battle against Tuberculosis’ campaign, while in FBH the Sarajevo Cantonal RC ran its own anti-TB campaign. By the end of the reporting period, the design of a computerised data-base for local RC branch profiles was completed. Financial support continued for office costs to the Red Cross of Republika Srpska, regional/cantonal offices and local branches. Repatriation The Sarajevo Cantonal RC, together with the German RC/German Refugee Return organisation opened an Information Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Sarajevo. The office will offer services and legal advice on all issues relevant to these groups. The Modern Secretaries Training Course in Ilidza finished in August. A total of 115 of the original 120 participants completed the course. Information The revised edition of Going Home - a Guidebook for Refugees was launched at the beginning of September, with the distribution of 60,000 copies domestically and internationally. The English-language version of the guidebook was posted on the Sarajevo-based Repatriation Information Centre’s website: the Serbianand Bosnian versions will be posted soon. Preparations took place for the next edition of Crossroads — a bi-monthly newsletter for RC branches in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia Operation Save Lives A shortage of relief supplies in June allowed an assessment of beneficiary needs to be carried out during the month with the help of the Mobile Teams (MTs). To start the process of a handover of the Save Lives operation to the Croatian Red Cross (CRC), which will be completed in 1998, major management changes were implemented during July with the transfer of activities to the National Society beginning in 3 emergency appeal no. 01.29/97 situation report no. 4 September. With Federation support, relief and medical activities will be run by the CRC. During the reporting period Mobile Social Service Teams continued to distribute non-food aid, medical supplies and equipment to the most vulnerable beneficiaries and health centres. As returns to the FSNS increase, vulnerable returnees are being provided with a one-off food parcel. Shelter Programme A final agreement has been reached over construction of an Elderly Care Village in Ilok, Eastern Slavonia — which is being funded by the Norwegian Red Cross/NORAD — following a dispute between local administrations on the siting of the facility. Preparatory ground work began in the middle of August and almost all the work is still expected to be completed this year. Construction work also continued on the annex to the elderly care facility at Marino Selo, Pakrac, and the project is scheduled for completion by the end of this month. Camp Management The number of persons accommodated in Gasinci camp fell to 1,788 by the end of September. Although the ODPR is still planning to resettle beneficiaries only a small number have applied for transfer to the collective centre in Varazdin. The unstable beneficiary situation and the uncertain future of the camp were the main reason for the Federation’s decision to suspend most Red Cross activities in Gasinci from July. A skeletal Home Care Team is now coordinated by two social workers from the branch in Djakovo, working with 22 refugee volunteers. The weekly distributions of milk and fruit to Home Care beneficiaries and high-fat milk to schoolchildren continued. Medical and Home Care Statistics June- September 1997 for Gasinci Camp Programme June July August Septembe r Medical transportation: no. of 666 810 783 672 patients Home Care Team beneficiaries 303 221 208 195 At the end of September 619 beneficiaries continued to be supported in the Swedish settlements, which witnessed major movements of beneficiaries in August involving the transfer by ODPR of some beneficiaries to Mala Gorica settlement or the Varazdin collective centre, the return of others to their reconstructed homes and the arrival of new beneficiaries.