As people return to their homes Oxfam will support communities through the provision of household items such as pots, pans, mattresses, clothing as well as rehabilitate water and sanitation systems. This is similar to work that we did last year inside Kosovo with displaced people and those who were returning to their homes. It is crucial that the rights, concerns and well being of refugees are placed at the centre of any settlement. Oxfam staff in Albania and Macedonia work with the refugees and speak to them every day, they report that while some people say they want to return to Kosovo under almost any circumstances many others insist on the withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo as a precondition for return. Most think they will never be able to return safely without an international military force, which they trust to monitor the peace agreement.
People have a right to return to their home in safety wherever it is in Kosovo.
If people do not trust the forces present, they will simply not return to those areas. Refugees' rights, wishes and concerns must be considered as the details of any settlement are worked out. Refugees should be free to decide when to return to their homes and to do so only when Kosovo is secure and they perceive it to be safe. The governments currently hosting them must not make the decision for refugees to return. While the political situation in Macedonia is very difficult it is important that accomodation continues to be made available to refugees there and that no undue pressure is brought to bear to precipitate their return.