UNMIK/PR/1457
PRISTINA – PDSRSG Larry Rossin and the Head of the Division for Humanitarian Assistance of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Mr Per Byman, today signed a Financial Agreement formalizing SIDA’s grant of three million Swedish krona (approximately 320,000 euros) to assist in the voluntary humanitarian relocation of some 125 Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian families currently living in the three lead-contaminated camps of Žitkovac/Zitkovc, Kablare/Kablar and Cesmin Lug/Llugë, in north Mitrovicë/a. The Head of the Swedish Liaison Office in Pristina, Ann-Sofie Nilsson, attended the signing ceremony.
The PDSRSG emphasized that the situation in which these families find themselves “is an affront to human dignity and it is essential to put in place as quickly as possible the necessary supports and services.”
“This generous donation from Sweden comes at a particularly important time”, the PDSRSG added. “We will now be able to offer services to those needy families in a healthy and safe environment by the end of December. This assistance, coupled with the support we have received from the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States and France will ensure that these families can access options for training, improved health facilities and other needed services at a safe site until such time as they are able to effect a permanent return to the Roma Mahala.”
The PDSRSG also acknowledged “the excellent cooperation and support which UNMIK has received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in helping to make the humanitarian relocation a reality.” UNHCR recently approved $50,000 in project funds to provide children’s programming, women’s protection and family education centre and to begin the implementation of an income-generation initiative. The PDRSG further recognized support provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for education of camp residents on matters related to the lead contamination.
The voluntary relocation will begin in December. The RAE families living in the contaminated camps will be encouraged to move from the three contaminated camps to former French KFOR Camp Osterode in north Mitrovica/ë, which is currently being transformed into a temporary community. The new camp will have 24 hours electricity, heating, potable water and medical facilities. The IDPs will continue to receive milk and food supplements and there will be a job training program to assist them in finding employment.
“None of these things are now available to the RAE families, and none would be possible without the support of our international partners as well as a grant from the Government, and I want to thank them all most sincerely for their efforts. Their resources could not have been more humanely spent,” the PDSRSG concluded.