Donor pledges push forward progress on addressing humanitarian priorities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Skopje, 22 July 2002 - Almost one year has passed since leaders of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) together with envoys from the European Union, United States, OSCE and NATO finalised the Framework Agreement in Ohrid. The Ohrid Agreement ended seven months of escalating hostilities and set the agenda for political reform to enhance minority rights. Annex C of the Agreement also provided a commitment from the international community to work together with the Government to return all persons displaced as a result of the conflict to their homes in the shortest possible time period.

Recent pledges from European donors will push forward this commitment at a very crucial time. Funds have been earmarked to remove obstacles which are directly inhibiting return including the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mines and shelter needs as a result of severely damaged homes.

The European Commission (EC) through the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) will provide 1.9 million Euros, which will be complemented by 130,000 Euros from the Government of Norway to enable deployment of international de-mining teams under the guidance of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS). Intensive de-mining activity will be undertaken by experienced NGOs - Care International and Handicap International - to rid the country of the main UXO / mine threat during the next 5 months. At the same time, complementary capacity building support for the Civil Protection Unit will support the Government in assuming responsibility for residual UXO / mine information and clearance needs.

A total of 14.2 million Euros has also been committed by the EC (3.6 million), and the Dutch (4.5 million), German (3 million) Italian (3 million) and Austrian (100,000) governments to rebuild some 1,000 structurally damaged or destroyed homes. Reconstruction activities will be undertaken by the International Management Group (IMG) together with implementing partners identified by the EAR.

With this generous support now secured, focus will turn to ensuring timely implementation of de-mining and reconstruction activities to enable as many of the remaining 17,000 internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their homes before winter sets in.

Of the 170,000 persons who fled their home during the 2001 conflict, over 153,000 have so far returned to their homes.