ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟ ΕΞΩΤΕΡΙΚΩΝ

ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΑ ΕΝΗΜΕΡΩΣΗΣ

General Information

Greek humanitarian aid to help refugees in Albania and FYROM amounts to a sum of 10.5 million US dollars. This does not include contributions from Greek NGOs.

So far, humanitarian aid of approx. 1,25 b. drachmas (4,1 m. $) has already been distributed, either through funding of NGOs by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the purchase of supplies or through direct supplies by the Ministries of Interior, Public Works, Health and Macedonia & Thrace, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence.

Greek humanitarian aid to Albania and FYROM is being delivered and distributed as follows:

1. To Albania, under the supervision of the Greek Embassy in Tirana, in cooperation with the Orthodox Church of Albania and the detachment of Greek Armed Forces posted to Albania.

2. To FYROM, by the Greek NGO “Evropaiki Prooptiki” (“European Perspective”) in cooperation with a network of five Greek NGOs which are distributing relief supplies to seven Reception Centers for the Support, Shelter and Protection of Refugees (a list of these Centers is attached).

3. A 24-hour period is required between delivery and distribution of aid supplies.

Supplementary Information on Greek Humanitarian Aid (including through NGOs).

GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID TO FYROM:

• 32 tons of food have been sent and distributed through the main Greek network of NGOs to refugees in temporary shelters on the border and in families (according to available data up to Wednesday April 7, 1999).

• 2000 jackets have been distributed by one of the NGOs involved in the relief project. A further 3000 are actually being distributed by the main NGO operating in FYROM.

- A number of individuals and other NGOs have also sent substantial assistance. Exact figures are not available yet.

GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID TO ALBANIA:

To date, the Greek government’s humanitarian aid to refugees from Kossovo in Albania has been distributed as follows:

• 4.120 blankets have been distributed in Koritsa by the Greek NGO ”ΙΔΙΚΥ” (IISA - Institute of International Social Affairs) under the supervision of the Greek Consulate in Koritsa which was already involved in an aid distribution network in Albania in cooperation with the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). IISA has been supplying food and medical supplies to hospitals and health centers in southern Albania since June 1997.

• A further 3.000 blankets were provided by the “National Foundation for the Reception and Rehabilitation of Greeks Abroad”

• Up to April 7, 1999, 15 tons of food had been distributed through the IISA network: 5 tons of flour, 5 tons of beans, and 5 tons of rice.

• Two ambulances and substantial medical supplies were delivered by the Greek Armed Forces at the Yzberish army base in Albania on April 2, 1999, according to the provisions of a Protocol signed by the Greek Embassy and the Deputy Health Minister of Albania, Mr. Brahimi.

The first 20 out of 200 prefabricated houses were transported to Tirana on 1 April 1999.for the first refugee camp set up in Albania as a Greek project. To date, 110 prefabricated houses are already in use (1.600 refugees are already being sheltered) and 70 more are being transported and assembled on the same site in the Tirana suburbs. This refugee camp was set up with the help of the Greek Armed Forces in Albania and has a capacity for 3.000 refugees. The afore-mentioned houses are being fitted with electricity and running water. All supplies are being provided through the Distribution Center of the Greek Armed Forces in Albania.

A refugee camp for 500 people in the city of Kukes was completed on April 4 and it is actually being upgraded to a capacity of 1000 refugees (100 tents for 1000 refugees).

There is also a Greek camp under construction 10 Km north of Pogradec, as a national project, which is intended to provide shelter at this initial stage to 2500 refugees. This camp is going to be supplied with all necessary goods by the Hellenic Red Cross.