BosNet News;Massive Refugee Flow
Steve Albert
B o s N e t -May 5, 1999
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http://www.msf.org/projects/yugoslavia/kosovo/reports/1999/05/050499-rep.htm
MSF - medicines sans frontieres
Over 200,000 Macedonian refugees after three days of massive arrivals
webplaced: May 4, 1999
Sitrep 16
Macedonia
May 3, 1999
GENERAL SITUATION
The total number of refugees in Macedonia is now close to 200,000 with
an average of 7,000-8,000 new arrivals per day for the past three days.
The Cegrane camp now has over 18,000 people and the HCR's plan is to
have a total of 40,000 there.
People are taken by buses directly from the Blace border crossing to the
Cegrane camp where there is an urgent need to mount more tents for the
new arrivals as well as improve the sanitation facilities.
The Macedonian and Albanian Foreign Ministers are supposed to sign an
agreement for the establishment of the "humanitarian corridor" which
would take new arrivals from Blace in buses directly to Korce, Albania.
If the agreement is reached, the first 4,000 refugees would have been
taken to Albania today (May 3). The plan is that UNHCR-Macedonia would
be managing the camp in Struga, Macedonian side transit camp, and in
Korce where several camps of 5,000-6,000 people would be set up. The
transit camp in Struga would be set with a capacity of 10,000.
Humanitarian evacuation to third countries is continuing. The evacuation
of Kosovars to the USA is supposed to start on May 5 with three
Boeing-747 flights per day taling approximatmely 1,500 in total.
Evacuation to other countries is continuing as well.
The UNHCR communique made in Geneva last Thursday regarding the
conditions developing for the likely outbreak of epidemics in the camps
has stirred the media not only here but also everywhere else in the
world.
MSF states that there is no immediate indication of epidemics in Brazda
camp. However, the overcrowding and poor sanitation certainly makes the
risk of an outbreak higher. MSF is taking all appropriate measures to
address any potential outbreak in the coming weeks.
OPERATIONS
Cegrane
The current population is over 18,000 but will be pushed up to 40,000 in
the coming days with continues bus flow of refugees from Blace. MSF is
running the clinic with an average of 350 consultations per day (figures
from April 29 to May 1, 1999).
Besides the chronic diseases, MSF is treating a lot of watery diarrhea
and upper resipiratory track infection cases. Over 50% of these cases
are amongst the under-5 child population.
There are discussions with the Pharmacists Sans Frontieres to set up a
special unit in the clinic to treat, specifically, scabies, head lice
and other skin diseases.
Brazda
The clinic continues to have 300400 consultations per day with a lot of
chronic diseases and watery diarrhea as well as upper respiratory track
infections.
Between 8-27 April, there have been two suspected cases of meningitis,
and a total of seven cases of bloody diarrhea.
There have not been any cases of cholera or measles.
The problem with the data that is available at the moment is that it
only shows the figures in relation to the consultations made by MSF and
other medical organisations. It does not reflect the situation in the
entire population.
The isolation unit construction is underway and should be ready by May
4. MSF is also working together with the Mercy Corps International which
will be running a tent for infant care activities (bathing,
breastfeeding).
There have been reports stating that a lot of people in need of medical
care do not actually come to our clinic. MSF will be hiring nurses in
the camp to assess the situation in the tents and make referrals to the
clinic if they encounter any cases.
BLACE
Sanitation work continues, for a target population of 4,000 people. MSF
publicly praised by HCR for its design and implementation of these
latrines.
RADUSA
MSF continues to run a clinic in Radusa and has started training local
medical staff in various medical issues focusing first on pediatrics.
People from Radusa camp have been sent to third countries (300 so far),
and there has been talk about the Government's wish to close the camp.
District program
Assessments in the districts of Tetovo and Struga have been completed.
MSF is looking into the existing capacity in the health centres in these
districts and also the access of refugee population to the health
centres. Mental health program and distribution of hygiene items will be
some of the activities and also general medical support for the
Macedonian health infrastructure.
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