THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

41. UNHCR Country Updates – Former Yugoslavia: 24 February 1999 – 4 March 1999, UN Inter-Agency Humanitarian Situation Report: Kosovo Population Movements

1. The most recent displacement is along Kosovo's Southeastern region bordering the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia an area previously unaffected by violence. To date UNHCR reports that more than 5,000 people have fled six villages in this area. On 2 March UNHCR brought plastic sheeting, sleeping bags, blankets, hygienic kits and canned food to 250 displaced staying in a school in Kacanik town. The displaced had previously been evacuated by UNHCR after spending two days under plastic sheeting in the mountains.

2. On 3 March UNHCR saw about 200 IDPs living rough on a mountainside at Kodra Ljacit. They had been there five days, fearing fighting between security forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army. UNHCR brought food for the these IDPs (mostly women, children and elderly) who on 26 February fled from their homes at nearby Pustenik, a village of about 600.

3. Elsewhere, UNHCR staff said on 3 March that they continued to hear shelling and gunfire overnight in the Vucitrn region. More than 11,000 people left their homes there after fighting broke out two weeks ago. Some 1,500 residents of Prcevo near Klina fled their homes at 03:00h 2 March when troops conducted military exercises there, but returned to their houses six hours later after troops withdrew.