[Newspoetry] RED CROSS press release RE: KOSOVO

[Paul Kotheimer]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 06 Apr 99 11:50:41 -0600
From: Dan Kotheimer <dank at ascp.org>

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American Red Cross: Supporting the International
Response to Kosovo Refugees

Turned out of their homes at
gunpoint … separated from
other family members …
carrying only the clothes on their
backs … seeking safety and an
uncertain welcome in a foreign
land…. That is the story for
thousands of refugees who have
been forced to flee the Kosovo
province of the Federal Republic
Yugoslavia during the latest
phase of a bitter internal conflict
that has torn the country apart. 
This grave humanitarian crisis
has been building for many long, tense months. Now, as NATO planes launch airstrikes
over Yugoslavia, the situation has grown even more desperate. Thousands of Kosovars --
mainly women, children, and the elderly -- are crossing the borders into Albania,
Macedonia, and the Yugoslavian Republic of Montenegro. 
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as many as 550,000
people have been displaced in Kosovo -- a quarter of the province's population. In less than
a week's time, almost 100,000 refugees have poured into Albania, Macedonia, and
Montenegro; and even more are expected as the conflict continues to escalate. The majority
of these refugees, some experiencing extreme emotional trauma, have few or no resources
for shelter or food, and many of them are turning to the Red Cross for assistance. 
This massive displacement of people requires an extensive,
well-organized humanitarian response. To help meet the
refugees' immediate needs for food, clothing, shelter, and
medical attention, the American Red Cross is cooperating with
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC), as well as the National Red Cross Societies in
Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Albania, and Bosnia-Herzogovina. All
assistance is provided in accordance with Red Cross principles
of neutrality and impartiality. 
The American Red Cross has been active in the region since 1993, providing humanitarian
assistance to Muslims, Serbs, and Croats alike at a cost of more than $35 million. Recently,
Steve Bullock, Acting President of the American Red Cross, reaffirmed the organization's
commitment to assist the most vulnerable victims of this conflict, saying, "The American
Red Cross, as part of the global Red Cross movement, is acting in coordination with
colleagues from the ICRC, the IFRC, and the National Red Cross Societies in the region to
position relief supplies and personnel to meet a growing range of humanitarian needs.
According to assessments, the populations with the most dire human needs in the region
will be women, children, and the elderly." No matter what happens in the days and weeks
ahead, the Red Cross will be there, supporting the vital humanitarian mission that the world
relies on us to provide. 
There will be no quick solution to this crisis. In
the weeks and months to come, the Red Cross
will concentrate on providing the resources to
meet the refugees' basic needs. But there is also a
critical need for long-term solutions as these
people who have been left with nothing try to
rebuild their lives. The Red Cross must also help
Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro -- countries
with limited resources and fragile economies -- as
they try to respond to the pressing needs of
thousands of refugees who are pouring across
their borders. 
The fastest and most effective way to help the
victims of this conflict is through cash donations.
The American Red Cross is unable to accept any
collections or individual offers of in-kind goods.
Those who wish to support the people affected by the conflict in Yugoslavia, including
Kosovo, can contribute to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box
37243, Washington, DC 20013, or call 1-800-HELP-NOW (435-7669) or
1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution
by filling out a donation form and choosing "International Response Fund" as their giving
option. 


http://www.redcross.org/