The Gypsies are accused of collaborating with the Serbs during the crisis and are therefore targets of attack by some of the Kosovar Albanians. Like the Serbs they have left in the thousands. They spend about 18,000 DM every month. The Friars have an emergency fund for unforeseen needs with money from the General Curia fund. There is one Franciscan fraternity in Kosovo with four friars from the Bosnia Province.
All friars are originally from Kosovo.
They are in Gjakova in the north- west of the country. Marjan Lorenci OFM remained in the city throughout the crisis. Serb soldiers occupied the friary, just before their barracks were totally destroyed by Nato bombs. The friary has been slightly damaged and already reconstruction work is underway. The friars have received financial support for the reconstruction, independent of the General Curia fund .