Date: Thu, 17 Aug 95 13:46:55 EDT
From: Disaster Information Administrator
Subject: Former Yugoslavia: Refugees IFRC-08
International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA: KRAJINA REFUGEES CRISIS
THIS APPEAL SEEKS CHF 5,068,000
IN CASH, KIND AND SERVICES
TO ASSIST 150,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR ONE MONTH
10 August 1995
Summary
Five years after armed conflict first erupted in former
Yugoslavia, the crisis in the Krajina region, since 4-5 August
may precipitate the largest refugee crisis of the war so far. Up
to 200,000 Serb refugees have fled their homes in Krajina, and
most appear intent on travelling across the Serb-held portion of
Bosnia-Herzegovina and entering the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. The vast majority of the refugees are arriving at
border crossing points carrying only the barest essential goods
and psychologically shattered after their traumatic exodus and
exhausting journey.
The Intended Operation
The Yugoslav Red Cross National Society has been at the
forefront of the relief efforts to meet the needs of the
refugees arriving at the border since the beginning of the
crisis. It has been using its relief stocks and every other
resource available to the National Society has been utilised,
including the YRC Headquarters in Belgrade, which is housing
more than 50 refugee families. However, the National Society
urgently requires international help to sustain this assistance.
The Federation therefore intends to provide ready-to-eat meals
as well as milk powder, baby sheets and basic hygiene articles
during the immediate emergency phase for 150,000 refugees. In a
second stage of operations, the Federation/YRC will provide
whatever supplies are needed to support refugees in either
transit reception centres or host-family accommodation.
The Disaster
The Croatian area of Krajina was seized by Serb separatist
forces in 1991 and contained an estimated population of 300,000
people, mostly Serbs. However, the Croatian government continued
to lay claim to the region also known as United Nations
Sectors South, West and North and on 4 August launched a
lightening military offensive by its army into Krajina.
The Krajina-Serb civilian population immediately began to flee
the area of hostilities, moving north-north-east into Bosnia.
Tens of thousands of people seeking safety headed initially
towards the town of Banja Luka in Bosnia-Herzegovina, using all
available means of transport. However, as the situation in and
around the Banja Luka area was itself uncertain, within 24 hours
of the crisis, and after a short stop in the town, many people
were on the move again, heading further east towards what they
considered their safest option: the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia.
Now, after a treacherous four-day journey, with many refugees
travelling day and night, long queues are forming on the border
between the Serb-Held area of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. More than 45,000 people have already
crossed the border but another 200,000 could be ready to queue
up behind them to complete customs formalities and cross into FR
Yugoslavia. Most of the refugees fled their homes carrying only
the barest essentials and are therefore arriving in FR
Yugoslavia in great need.
The events of the last week have dramatically altered the
conflict in the former Yugoslavia, and may yet unleash a major
escalation of the war. Although an widening of the fighting to
the disputed territory of Eastern Slavonia is still less rather
than more likely at the moment, between 100 and 150 refugees an
hour are already arriving in FR Yugoslavia from this sector
(Sector East). The Federation will continue to monitor the
situation carefully, therefore, and develop appropriate action
based on plans which are already at an advanced state of
preparedness.
The Response so far
Government Action l
The Serbian Commissariat for Refugees, in response to this new
influx, has opened five reception and transit centres close to
border crossings, to register refugees and relocate them into
private or collective accommodation. Whilst it is difficult to
estimate what proportion of these refugees could be accommodated
with host families, it should be borne in mind that the
sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia since
1992 have had a deleterious effect upon the economy, and thus
upon the capacity of people to take on the responsibility for
caring for extra charges.
Red Cross/Red Crescent Action l
The Yugoslav Red Cross has acquired considerable experience in
dealing with refugee operations in the last three years. It has
reacted swiftly and effectively to this disaster by placing
teams at the main border crossings and reception centres.
Even at the Yugoslav Red Cross Headquarters in Belgrade, more
than 50 refugee families were accommodated in the available
space, including garden and parking lots.
The National Society also successfully conducted blood
transfusion campaigns in many municipalities, to cope with the
demand for blood in the hospitals treating the wounded.
The Federation has mobilised all its delegates and other
available resources in the area and is working in close
collaboration with the Yugoslav Red Cross in order to cope with
the crisis.
While the Federation is operative in the FR Yugoslavia, the ICRC
has been active in assisting and monitoring refugees and their
movements in Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Other Agencies' Action & Co-ordination l
To provide relevant strategy and policy to the relief
operations, a steering committee has been formed by the major
relief agencies (the Federation, ICRC, UNHCR, WFP, WHO, UNICEF,
ECHO and IOM) at the Head of Delegation level to co-ordinate
roles and responsibilities. Two other commissions, for Senior
Logistics Officers involving the same agencies but including
the Yugoslav Red Cross and to co-ordinate medical activities,
have also been set up.
The Needs to be met
Assessment of Needs l
Even if this influx is the biggest since 1991, it is not the
first one. Assessments have therefore been made on the basis of
considerable experience and local knowledge of the situation.
Immediate Needs l
The Yugoslav Red Cross and the Federation are looking to provide
during the immediate emergency phase ready-to-eat meals for
adults, children and babies as well as milk powder, baby sheets
and basic hygiene articles. The needs outlined in the budget are
based upon the needs of 150,000 refugees.
Anticipated Later Needs l
Due consideration should be made, as in the past, for
appropriate shelter items, as the fifth winter of this conflict
approaches.
Red Cross Objectives
Covering the immediate needs of the refugees remains the primary
initial objective for Red Cross action. This Appeal is for a
duration of only one month and will therefore seek only to
address the immediate needs, whilst preparing for those needs
which will inevitably appear in the medium term.
The first stage of the relief operations (already in process
from existing stocks) will cover the immediate needs of refugees
both at border crossings and reception centres.
Most refugees will initially go to transit reception centres
though others will be accommodated in host-family accommodation.
The Red Cross operation's second stage will be to assess the
refugees' needs in their hew habitat, and to provide for it.
Stage three, which is not directly covered by this Appeal, will
address the issue of resettlement; whilst a putative fourth
stage should address issues of social security benefits,
education and integration into society.
National Society/Federation Plan of Action
Emergency Phase: Present - 26 August l
As the relief response already under way is using existing
stocks, the Appeal aims both to sustain the Emergency Phase for
a period not exceeding three weeks. To cover operational
requirements in the first stage, procurement in the region is
essential.
Stage Two: As soon as possible - end of September l
To cover the needs of the refugees in their chosen accommodation
area for a period of up to one month, procurement regionally and
further afield is envisaged. Both procurement phases will be
co-ordinated by the Secretariat's Logistic Service.
The Federation will continue to use in the normal manner it's
UN-accorded blanket clearance for the purposes of importing
relief goods into areas covered by sanctions for its operations
in former Yugoslavia.
With co-operation between the Federation and the National
Society in both management and logistics already excellent, no
major problems in distribution and reporting are envisaged. The
Yugoslav Red Cross boasts 210 Red Cross branches, 500 personnel,
more than one million volunteers and activists, and fully
computerised logistics and reporting systems. Combined with the
65-staff member Federation delegation and an available fleet of
70 vehicles, the logistical capacity for this operation is
therefore considered to be adequate. The only exception is a
shortage of refrigerated trucking capacity.
The computerised reporting system will provide all necessary
reports, per donor, per commodity, automatically every month.
Immediate action
Immediate action has been underway for four days as described
above. This includes the installation of one Medical Coordinator
and two logisticians at the Raca Crossing point, together with
the active mobilisation of 17 branches of the Yugoslav Red Cross
and over 2,000 volunteers.
Budget summary
See Annex 1 for details.
Conclusion
The suffering created by the conflict in former Yugoslavia goes
on this time for Krajina Serbs. The International Federation
is determined to provide, in co-operation with the Yugoslav Red
Cross, support for 150,000 victims of the latest round of
fighting. In this way the International Red Cross/Red Crescent
Movement will demonstrate the translation of its seven
principles into concrete action.
Margareta Wahlstrvm George Weber
Under-Secretary General, Secretary General
Disaster Response Operations Coordination
ANNEX 1
BUDGET SUMMARY -- APPEAL No.08/95 IN CHF
NEEDS IN KIND (OR CASH)
Beans: 100 mt 81,000
Oil: 170 mt 228,000
Canned potatoes: 100 mt 104,000
Pasta: 70 mt 56,000
Milk powder: 150 mt 405,000
Anti lice shampoo: 20 000 bottles 60,000
Baby sheets: 13 000 sets 130,000
Chlorine water tablets: 500 000 87,000
TOTAL NEEDS IN KIND (OR CASH) >>>>>>>>>>>>>
-------------> 1,151,000
NEEDS IN CASH
Prepared meals: 500 000 1,875,000
Baby food: 50 000 units 100,000
Semolina baby food: 10 mt 26,000
Baby milk: 10 000 units 86,000
Washing powder: 200 mt 200,000
Liquid detergent: 50 mt 30,000
Bed linen: 50 000 sets 411,000
Towels: 50 000 units 629,000
Various hygiene supplies 180,000
One refrigerated truck 100,000
Transport, storage & vehicle costs 90,000
Personnel (3 delegate / months + local staff) 75,000
Travel & communications 25,000
Information 5,000
Administrative, office & general expenses 15,000
Secretariat operational support 70,000
TOTAL NEEDS IN CASH >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
-------------> 3,917,000
TOTAL APPEAL CASH & KIND 5,068,000
LESS CASH ON HAND NIL
NET REQUEST CASH & KIND 5,068,000
appeal no: 08/95
15 August 1995
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