Outstanding humanitarian priorities: FYR of Macedonia

During the seven-month internal conflict in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) almost 170,000 people fled their homes. The Framework Agreement signed in Ohrid on 13 August 2001 provided for an end to hostilities, pledged increased right to ethnic minorities and prepared the ground for the return of the displaced population. Implementation of the Framework Agreement has been supported by high level diplomatic missions, a strong international monitoring presence through OSCE and EUMM, NATO's Task Force Fox as well as signifcant humanitarian assistance.
Since the signing of the Agreement, more than 150,000 of the 170,000 displaced have returned home. Humanitarian programs have facilitated this return by rebuilding homes and providing basic household inputs; repairing schools and providing books and school materials; rehabilitating and equipping clinics; providing seeds, fertilizer and feed for livestock; working with doctors, teachers and other professional to address health access and psychological stress; and financing community projects to meet urgent infrastructure needs and build confidence between ethnic groups.

The emergency however, has not entirely passed and return is not yet fully sustainable. Some communities remain divided, ethnic and crime related violence continues and families inside and out of the former crisis area are without jobs and struggling to meet their basic needs. With elections coming and contentious issues such as the census, revised citizenship legislation and financing for decentralization on the agenda, continued support for political progress is as important as ever.

To tackle the remaining obstacles to return and move communities past the current fragile peace, continued humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance is also essential. A key humanitarian concern is the ongoing threat of unexploded ordnance and mines, which is impacting access to reconstruction and agriculture programs as well as the redeployment of mixed police patrols. The remaining repair and reconstruction of damaged and destroyed homes needs also to get underway quickly in order to capitalize on current favorable weather conditions and ensure people can return to their homes before winter. In addition, expectations for tangible improvements in daily living conditions are growing and stabilization will increasingly be tied to socio-economic improvements. Short term investments in agriculture, small business revitalization, health and education are therefore, needed to bridge gaps before longer term development programmes and investment projects come fully on line.

Just over US $ 41 million is needed to cover humanitarian priorities in fYROM, including US $ 14.5 million to rebuild the remaining 900 structurally damaged homes, US $ 2.9 million to rid the country of the main unexploded ordnance and mine problem and US $ 23.5 million to support continuation of humanitarian programs prioritized in the 2002 United Nations Consolidated Appeal (CAP).

If people are unable to go home for fear of mines or lack of shelter, or have no way of providing for their families once they have returned, there is a real risk that continued progress on the Framework Agreement will stall. Resources for these programs are needed now to re-energize the peace process by ensuring the obstacles to return and lasting peace are removed.