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RNN EXCLUSIVE :
Situation in Macedonia !

Situation in Macedonia

Kumanovo / MACEDONIA ( RNN Correspondent ) April the 5th, 1999
In Macedonia have arrived 1000 Roma refugees. Most of them are situated through the cities in Macedonia (Gostivar, Tetovo, Skopje, Kumanovo). There are Roma refugees who still can not get a legitimization of humanitarian refugee because of the large crowds of People.But yet the Albanian non governmental . Organizations organize themselves better than the Roma organizations. It may be because the had know previously that such situation will occur. The state institutions cannot take over with occur. The state institutions cannot take over with such large number of refugees, now it is not needed just humanitarian help but also help from another countries that will accept some part of the refugees. Those refugees who are still on the border-places want to be put within families and some of them even in hotels. They avoid staying in the refugee centers made by the authorities. Macedonia has not such capacity. Some contagious diseases are there thinning to the People in Macedonia.
98% of the refugees are Albanians and for this situation they say it's scary and they wouldn't like to go back in Kosovo.
Most of the Roma refugees came here in Macedonia illegally and they have left their id-s, which makes many difficulties at their arrival. This is not war for their interests, they are suffering a lot and it will make big consequences to them.
All of the Roma are loyal citizens, no matter where they live. Every human being is trying to save his life, looking for shelter in every state. The poor Roma People are in very bad situation, they can hardly bear this. Besides the refugees, the Roma People from Macedonia are struck by this. As an example in Kumanovo, city near the border with Yugoslavia, live 6000 Roma People 95% unemployed-social cases, they live on the social help from state (120 DM), and they haven't taken money for three months. When we contacted them in their settlements, we saw these cases:

1. Families who accepted Roma refugees are not able to procure every day needs(food).
2. A number of families are starving for two days, the heads of the family are looking for work but there is no work.
There are some problems in the Roma settlements because of the lack of hygiene-the People are having illnesses.
The private owners and the factories of the country proclaiming stopping of work.
3.One family has 4 kids, one of the kids is hospitalized in Skopje, the kid is in coma, his parents don't have money to buy food for the other three kids and they can't visit him in the hospital.
4.Many families go the social institutions for help but they are refused because there is no finances.
5.The Roma organization help them according to their abilities. Roma NGO RCC"DROM"Kumanovo helped as much as possible. Now we like to help but how? There are some problems in the Roma settlements because of the lack of hygiene-the People are having lices.

The situation is giving no peace in the people's souls. Every night People hear noises from airplanes flying over their heads. People are afraid. There was a proclaim for mobilization in order to protect the borders from the big number of refugees.
The life on the streets is normal, but there is fear among People. The GOV. is making big efforts to control the situation but the consequences will be catastrophic and they are already felt.

Asmet Elezovski Board Member of the RNC
For all of you from Macedonia Kumanovo 03.04.1999
Asmet Elezovski-members of the Board of Roma National Congress.
e-mail :Roma Community Center "DROM" Kumanovo
e-mail :Asmet Elesovski - RNC Board

Donation Bank Account
Stopanska Banka a.d.Skopje
Broj na smetka:40100-620-42 – 20625
ZPP-Kumanovo- 40900-678-6121
Roma Community Center "DROM"Kumanovo
Lokalitet serava prizemje 7a, 91300 Kumanovo
Tel.fax:++38990127558

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