10.07.99
SECURITY SITUATION
According to the daily newspaper "Nova Makedonija", in last two days, 830 American military vehicles came in Macedonia, loaded with different kind of equipment, accompanied with more than 1.000 marines. In the coming days is expected to arrive other American military contingents. But, at the same time through the macedonian-greek border, is expected to start the transport of Russian soldiers from KFOR forces, which will go to Kosovo.
NUMBER OF REFUGEES
According to Ministry of Interior (MVR), the day before yesterday 4.087 refugees left Macedonia. At the same time, 3.436 Yugoslav citizens came in Macedonia, while one third of them were with passports and the others were with green cards. In UNHCR estimate that in the still opened six camps in Macedonia are staying about 7.000 refugees.
Through the Skopje airport, the day before yesterday, were returned back to Kosovo a number of refugees, who were transferred to third countries in the last few months using airlift. 156 refugees were returned from Germany, 273 from Canada, 160 Italy and 17 from Australia.
According to the reports of International organization of migration (IOM), which is responsible for transporting of refugees, 465 refugees were returned back to Kosovo in the last days, using Skopje airport. This organization, in cooperation with UNHCR, has organized returning for 3.033 refugees, who were settled in camps in Macedonia. IOM, yesterday started to register refugees who were settled in families and who want to go back to Kosovo. For that reason, an office is opened in village Mala Rechica, in Tetovo (Tel./fax. 094-330-387).
UNHCR informed that a group of 150 Roma, who arrived in Macedonia the day before yesterday, is settled in the houses of their fellow nationalities in Macedonia.
CAMPS
According to the daily newspaper "Fakti", yesterday, about 14:00 o’clock, in camp Stenkovec 2, a group of 700-800 kosovar refugees, protested because of the decision of UNHCR, to be transferred to the camp Cegrane. Most of them want to go to third countries, especially USA, because, as they say, they don’t have where to go back. According to UNHCR, there are still 4.402 refugees in camp Stenkovec 2.
SUPPORT
USA will enable all the 9.600 kosovar refugees, that this country accepted using airlift, to return back to Kosovo, but, if they want, the refugees can stay in USA, said James Folly, State Department spokesman.
According to the daily newspaper "Fakti", even though in Kicevo and its environs remained a little number of refugees, few days ago, in Kicevo branch of HO "El-Hilal", with intermediation of Dutch embassy arrived humanitarian conveyance of about 40 tones.
According the daily newspaper "Fakti", an 13 years old boy from Kosovo and his sister, in Thursday arrived in California, with hope that doctors will take care of wounds they got when NATO bombed their village. The trip for Besart and his sister Luljeta was organized by International organization of migration (IOM).