WRITTEN QUESTION E-2083/01

by Francisca Sauquillo Pérez del Arco (PSE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Humanitarian aid to Macedonia and Kosovo

Is it true that the humanitarian aid being provided by the Commission to the people of Macedonia is being restricted to food aid? In view of the state of war in the country and the consequent numbers of refugees and displaced persons, is the Commission planning to draw up a comprehensive humanitarian-aid programme?

It is reported that the ECHO office in Kosovo is closing down, despite the fact that the situation has worsened following the arrival of refugees fleeing from the conflict in Macedonia. How much humanitarian aid is due to be supplied to Kosovo?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2001)

Since the beginning of the crisis in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM), European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), through its partners, has responded to the humanitarian needs of the victims (Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in fYROM and refugees in Kosovo) in three manners:

- Mobilising the disaster preparedness stocks built, largely with ECHO funding, in the aftermath of the Kosovo crisis. This was mainly done by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in fYROM and the United Nations (UN) agencies in Kosovo.

- Enlarging the scope of ECHO's programme in fYROM, to respond to the new needs. At the beginning of the crisis, ECHO's programme was targeting two categories: refugees (from the Kosovo crisis) and most vulnerable local population. The programme has been increased and re-oriented to cater for the needs of IDPs. ECHO is currently implementing projects in fYROM for a total amount of 5,4 million. Another 600 000 have been committed and are in the process of being contracted out to ECHO partners. The sectoral breakdown of it is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

- Responding to the crisis in Kosovo. In 2001, 12,5 million have been committed for operations in Kosovo: 520 000 were contracted out in May 2001 to two non governmental organisation (NGO) partners to provide support, in the form of non food items to refugees from fYROM. In addition, in view of the increase in the number of refugees and the revision of the 2001 Consolidated Appeal of the UN for South Eastern Europe,

the Commission adopted on 31 July 2001 an emergency decision for 1,5 million to support the families hosting refugees in Kosovo for more than three months, support refugees with non-food items, provide basic immunisation to refugee children and strengthen pre-natal, natal and post natal health services. The programmes will be implemented by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). The total allocation for Kosovo for 2001 is therefore: 14 million.

ECHO's phasing out strategy from the Balkans, which started in 2000 with the closure of offices and end of operations in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, is based on two parameters: the coverage of the urgent humanitarian needs and the successful linkage with other instruments who are in a better position to support a development process. In Kosovo, the humanitarian needs resulting from the Kosovo crisis have been covered and the development of the Province is strongly supported by the Commission through the European Agency for Reconstruction. Within the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK), the original UNHCR-led Pillar 1 dealing with humanitarian issues has also been phased out as needs reduced and were met by other parts of the interim administration. In this context, ECHO's intervention in relation to the Kosovo crisis will be finalised this year and the ECHO office will be closed. ECHO will continue monitoring the situation and following up the implementation of remaining projects related to the refugees from fYROM from its office in Skopje.

With regards to the drawing up of a comprehensive Commission plan to support fYROM, the humanitarian response is with the current conditions in fYROM an essential, but limited, part of such plan. Also in anticipation of the implementation of a much larger comprehensive assistance package, the Commission mobilised, in May 2001, 2,5 million from the Rapid Reaction Mechanism for the repair and reconstruction of houses affected by the conflict, as a confidence building measure in support of the local authorities' efforts to alleviate the consequences of the fighting on innocent civilians, no matter their ethnic background.

The Commission also intends to assist fYROM in the implementation of the Framework Agreement concluded between the political leaders of the country on 13 August 2001. Preparations are ongoing for the provision of additional support from the CARDS programme for housing reconstruction, local infrastructure development and confidence-building measures(1). Further macrofinancial assistance may also be disbursed, and the Commission will organise a Donors' Meeting, with the World Bank, when adequate implementation of the Framework Agreement has taken place.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 of 5 December 2000 on assistance for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yougoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 and amending Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89 and (EEC) No 1360/90 and Decisions 97/256/EC and 1999/311/EC OJ L 306, 7.12.2000.