Address by Mr. Bedredin Ibraimi, Minister of Labour and Social Policy, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Honorable representatives, delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

With the commencement of the crisis in the Republic of Macedonia in March 2001, the majority of the population from the crisis regions from Skopje, Kumanovo and Tetovo areas left their homes and sought shelters throughout the country, and some of them out of the country.

The majority of people who left their homes were sheltered in Skopje, Kumanovo, Tetovo, Dojran and Gevgelija.

Most of the displaced persons have been accommodated in households, and certain part was sheltered in collective centers.

The number of displaced persons varied, and it reached its peak in August - 76,046 persons, out of which, 72,134 persons were sheltered in households, and 3,912 in collective centers. At the moment, according to the new re-registration, the number of displaced persons amounts to 17,192 persons, out of which, 14,287 are placed in households, and 2,905 in collective centers.

For the purpose of successful coordination of the humanitarian activities, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in agreement with the President of the Republic of Macedonia, formed Coordinative Humanitarian Committee in order to establish control of and plan for delivering the humanitarian assistance.

Around 20 representatives participated at the meetings with this Humanitarian Coordinative Committee, and those were representatives of certain ministries, representatives of the United Nation Agencies, (High Refugee Commissariat, UN Office for coordination of humanitarian issues, UNICEF, UN Development Programme, World Health Organization and the World Food Programme), representatives of the Red Cross, representatives of International and domestic nongovernmental organizations and donors (ECHO, USAID, Humanitarian Assistance Office within the Swiss Embassy).

The distribution of the humanitarian assistance has been carried out via the municipal organizations of Red Cross, and they regularly submit reports to the donors.

The first, second and the third distribution of humanitarian assistance were provided by the International Red Cross Committee, whereby the other distributions were performed by INTERSOS and Action against Hunger. Both nongovernmental organizations are financed via the ECHO programme. The hygienic supplies are provided via International Red Cross Federation and American Red Cross.

The humanitarian assistance for displaced persons comprises alimentary products (a package of food and flour) and hygienic supplies.

Since September 2001, monthly distribution of hygienic supplies has been performed for the households that sheltered displaced persons.

In the winter period, blankets were distributed, provided by the International Red Cross Committee.

In the collective centers, the monthly distribution of humanitarian assistance has been carried out by the International Red Cross Committee.

In November and December distribution in Skopje and Tetovo, dairy products and other supplies were also distributed, provided by the Ministry of Finance, donation of the European Development Bank. This distribution covered over 38,000 displaced persons.

The Danish Refugee Council donated baby food packages.

Macedonian Center for International Cooperation made a great contribution in providing the humanitarian assistance, as well as EL HILAL and other domestic nongovernmental organizations.

UNHCR, UNICEF and other organizations were constantly involved in the delivery of the assistance.

Via UNICEF, school supplies and other school materials, children clothes and other things for the needs of the displaced persons, as well as hygienic baby packages were provided.

UNHCR provided two cubic meters of firewood for the households that sheltered displaced persons and this donation will continue in cooperation with Mercy Corps and the Danish Refugee Council.

Domestic companies, with their donations, also took participation in providing assistance for displaced persons.

For the displaced persons in collective centers, UNHCR provided bus transportation on the route Skopje-Tetovo-Skopje for around 760 persons, in order to provide them smooth going to their offices, school and university, and the International Organization for Migrations provided monthly tickets for 260 students from Kumanovo, so that they can go to school from the collective centers and the households.

By Government Decision, the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia provides 400 denars per day for person sheltered in collective centers, out of which 19% VAT is paid, and the other 320 denars are intended for accommodation, food, payment of electricity, water, utilities, salaries for employed etc. So far, from the Budget a total of EUR 4,845,900 are spent (298,022,870.00 denars) (as of 28 February 2002) for covering the costs in the collective centers.

The Humanitarian Assistance Office within the Swiss Embassy, in October, implemented the project Money for Shelter, thus providing financial aid for hosts that sheltered displaced persons in the period April - June 2001. This aid was delivered immediately, retroactively, via Macedonian post office for 3,120 households. 1,611 households were provided assistance in amount of 6.600,00 denars, and 1509 households - assistance in total amount of 8.800,00 denars for a period of three, i.e. four months.

The High Refugee Commissariat provided around 8 million denars financial aid for covering the costs of the students that were not able to be accommodated in student dormitories, although they entitled to it.

UNDP provided financial aid of over EUR 75 thousand for reconstruction of gas heating in collective centers, and in certain centers, construction of complete gas heating system, thus, there is gas heating in all facilities, i.e. collective centers.

The European Commission via its Crisis Recovery Agency provided EUR 75 monthly for each host that sheltered displaced persons in the period of January 2002 by June 2002 inclusive, and for this purpose an agreement was signed. The period from July to December 2001, for providing financial aid for households that sheltered displaced persons, remains uncovered.

For overcoming the traumas and psycho-social crises at the displaced persons, UNHCR provided resources for development of psycho-social programme in order to help mostly the children and women.

Certain humanitarian organizations, i.e. donors, with regard to the area they cover, cooperate with certain ministries such as the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and other ministries; due to this, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy cannot provide a report for the humanitarian activities in their areas.

Due to the overall situation in the country, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy proposes the following:

• The provision of humanitarian assistance in food, clothes and shoes and hygienic packages for displaced persons sheltered in households and collective centers to be continued, as well as assistance for persons that returned to their homes,

• Compensation of the funds spent from the Budget for displaced persons sheltered in collective centers during 2001 and 2002 in amount of EUR 4,845,900 (298,022,870.00 denars) to be provided, as well as of the funds that will be spent till the end of the stay of displaced persons in the collective centers. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy estimates that until the end of June 2002, around EUR 2,350,000 will be needed for sheltering the displaced persons in collective centers.

• One-off financial aid to be provided for the displaced persons, especially for those that do not receive any income and are unemployed.

• Financial aid to be provided for the students accommodated in private apartments, due to the impossibility to be accommodated in the student dormitories.

• Restoration of the collective centers in which the displaced persons are sheltered, after they leave the centers.

Due to the emerged crisis in the country, the number of social assistance beneficiaries increased by 2,000 households, and also the number of the persons who lost their jobs (on the basis of bankruptcy, redundancy and from the loss-making companies) by 5,759 persons. For these reasons, the Budget is additionally burdened by about EUR 1,625,600.

Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen

At the end, I would like to emphasize the gratitude of the Republic of Macedonia to OSCE and its member states, and especially the gratitude to the High Commissioner Mr. Max van der Stoel for the establishment of the Southeast Europe University in Tetovo, mostly attended by Albanian students.

However, the existing faculties of this University do not meet the educational needs of the Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia.

Within this University, it is necessary for a faculty to be established which will educate personnel for providing primary and secondary education in Albanian language.

This would complete the issue for high education of the Albanians, thus closing an issue that has always been causing discontent and tensions among the Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me at the end to express my belief that your assistance and support will be full and complete, thus enabling us to realize our strategic objectives and commitments for Euroatlantic integration of the Republic of Macedonia.