U.S. RESPONSE TO HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN KOSOVO OUTLINED
USIA
18 August 1998
TEXT: U.S. RESPONSE TO HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN KOSOVO OUTLINED
(State Dept. official Julia Taft at forum with NGOs) (1600)
Washington -- Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees
and Migration Julia V. Taft outlined the U.S. government's response to
the humanitarian situation related to the conflict in Kosovo at a
public forum with representatives of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) August 18.
She said, "The USG has responded to the crisis with over $10 million
in aid," most of which is channeled through NGOs.
The United States, Taft said, was "active in ensuring the return of
humanitarian commodities confiscated from non-governmental
organizations" and continues "to maintain pressure on Serb officials
to allow unfettered access for humanitarian organizations in Kosovo."
Reports of an artificial food shortage continue to trouble the United
States, Taft said. "We have publicly condemned any artificial food
shortage and have asked Ambassador Hill to address this issue with
[President] Milosevic [of the 'Federal Republic of Yugoslavia']
personally. We will continue to investigate this and other allegations
until we have resolved them."
Another cause of concern to the United States is the return of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes. Taft said that the
United States is "encouraging a bolstered international presence" and
that it will "intensify pressure on Milosevic to fulfill his promise
of return."
Following Taft's remarks, Eileen Malloy, deputy assistant secretary of
state for European and Canadian affairs, took part in the exchange
with NGO representatives and stressed that the United States is
following a multi-track approach to the situation in Kosovo.
The humanitarian aspect of the crisis, while it has the most immediacy
in terms of relieving people's suffering, is "just one of three tracks
we're working very hard on," Malloy said.
Equally important in the long run is the track of negotiations for a
peaceful settlement of the Kosovo conflict, according to Malloy. And a
third track that is "extremely important" involves assuring that "all
of the allies at NATO finalize their planning" for potential action,
she said.
Following is the text of Taft's prepared remarks:
(Begin text)
Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration
Julia V. Taft
August 18, 1998
USG Response to the Humanitarian Situation related to the Kosovo
Conflict
The humanitarian situation in Kosovo has deteriorated so rapidly in
the last several weeks that we find ourselves on the brink of what may
soon be a "humanitarian crisis." Many of you work there or have been
there recently so I don't have to tell you how dire the situation has
become, especially for those tens of thousands who remain in the hills
around Malisevo. We are deeply concerned about these individuals and
the new IDPs [Internally Displaced Persons] and refugees that continue
to be produced. It is appalling that we are facing another refugee and
IDP problem of this magnitude in this region, just a few years after
the signing of the Dayton Accords.
We have organized this briefing today to highlight our shared concern
for the humanitarian situation in Kosovo and review what steps the USG
is taking to address them. Unfortunately, I can't say we are close to
getting the humanitarian needs under control, but I can say we are
working both politically and through our partners on the ground to
best address the situation as it stands today. We are there; we are
concerned; we are engaged.
The USG has responded to the crisis with over $10 million in aid. Most
of that is channeled through our NGO [non-governmental organizations]
partners -- many of whom are here today -- while the remainder
supports international organizations, such as UNHCR [U.N. High
Commissioner of Refugees] and ICRC [International Committee of the Red
Cross]. In addition to direct financial support, we are providing
direct food assistance to the World Food Program and several NGOs. The
Department of Defense is currently shipping almost a half million
Humanitarian Daily Rations to aid agencies, and has also provided
vehicles to international aid agencies in the region. AID [U.S. Agency
for International Development] has provided significant staffing to
the region over the past several months and will send an OFDA [Office
of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance in the Bureau for Humanitarian
Response at USAID] team this Saturday. While this support is
important, it alone will not solve the problem. That is why we have
been actively engaged in Kosovo on a political level. Humanitarian
concern has always been and will continue to be an important component
of our political strategy in Kosovo.
As many of you know, we were active in ensuring the return of
humanitarian commodities confiscated from non-governmental
organizations and continue to maintain pressure on Serb officials to
allow unfettered access for humanitarian organizations in Kosovo. We
recognize that access has not been universal, but we see that there
has been some improvement.
We are concerned about the continued reports of an artificial food
shortage. We have publicly condemned any artificial food shortage and
have asked Ambassador Hill to address this issue with Milosevic
personally. We will continue to investigate this and other allegations
until we have resolved them.
We recognize the need for the immediate return of the IDPs to their
homes in Kosovo. Return is an unquestionable right of all displaced
persons. More immediately, return will facilitate the delivery of
humanitarian aid and will ensure that more people have shelter now and
through the winter. Milosevic has promised to allow the return of IDPs
and refugees to their homes, and we intend to hold him to this
promise. We have developed an initiative that we hope will help get
some IDPs home immediately, so they don't face a cold winter without
shelter and food. We are working closely with international
organizations, including UNHCR, ICRC, and the KDOM [Kosovo Diplomatic
Observer Mission], to increase their presence in those towns to which
IDPs can and will return. We believe Malisevo and Mitrovica are
promising areas of return. We encourage those NGOs who are here today
to consider how they too can support an increased presence in these
towns to promote return.
At the same time that we are encouraging a bolstered international
presence, we will intensify our pressure on Milosevic to fulfill his
promise of return. We will outline our expectation that he provide a
secure environment, decreased police presence, unfettered access, and
assistance for shelter repair in five key areas. We expect that these
five areas will be only the initial round of returns.
Having said that, we recognize that only through a cessation in
hostilities can we expect a completely safe environment for the
delivery of humanitarian assistance, the return of all people to their
homes, and an end to the production of refugees and IDPs. As you all
know, we are working on a negotiated settlement through Ambassador
Chris Hill's efforts. We applaud the creation of a Rugova-led
negotiating team and will continue to work closely with both sides
until a settlement is reached. The USG is fully committed to finding a
peaceful solution to this conflict.
I want to reiterate that we are engaged on the humanitarian front. We
share your concern and will continue to do what we can politically and
in support of our partners on the ground, in order to address the
needs of those displaced by this conflict. I welcome your comments,
questions and suggestions as to how we can continue to work together
to address the rising needs. Thank you for attending today.
United States Government Response to Humanitarian Needs Related to the
Kosovo Crisis
The United States has been actively engaged in negotiating a
settlement in Kosovo, creating conditions for the safe delivery of
humanitarian aid and promoting the safe return of IDPs and refugees.
The USG has called for a cessation of hostilities and all actions that
negatively impact the well-being of civilians. The USG maintains
constant pressure on Serb officials to allow unfettered access for
humanitarian organizations in Kosovo, and has been active in ensuring
the return of humanitarian commodities confiscated from
non-governmental organizations. High government officials, including
Belgrade Charge Miles and Ambassador Hill, as well as the Kosovo
Diplomatic Observer Mission, have traveled with aid agencies and
raised the issue of access. USG officials have called on Milosevic to
fulfill his promise for the immediate return of IDPs. The USG is
presently pursuing a return initiative to rally international support
and increase pressure on Milosevic in order to provide conditions for
the safe return of IDPs.
The USG works closely with international organizations and
non-governmental organizations to ensure that their operations are
supported and fully addressing existing needs. The USG has urged other
governments to provide assistance through NGOs and international
organizations. The United States Government has provided direct
financial contributions, commodities and equipment to international
and non-governmental organizations responding to the humanitarian
needs related to the Kosovo conflict. Below is a list of USG response
to the conflict, as of August 13, 1998:
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
-- $2.6 million to support emergency appeal
-- 185,000 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs)
International Committee of the Red Cross
-- $700,000 to support emergency appeal
United Nations Children's Emergency Fund
-- $250,000 to support emergency appeal
World Food Program
-- $830,000 in commodities
-- 8 surplus vehicles for use in Albania
Non-Governmental Organizations
-- close to $5.3 million for humanitarian aid delivery and shelter
projects
-- 265,000 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs)
Other contributions are forthcoming. USG will respond to the future UN
appeal, expected in late August 1998.
(End text)