Kosovo has become a ‘living hell’
The Layman Online, April 6, 1999
According to Religion Today, ethnic Albanians in Kosovo are “in an intolerable, living hell.” Kevin Cook, a U.S. relief worker, says humanitarian aid intended for Kosovo is blocked, and Serbian militia are rounding up and deporting residents. Refugees describe massacres and other atrocities, the World Vision International program director said.
People’s worst fears are coming true, Cook told Religion Today from Macedonia. “Imagine waking up and your house is under attack with shells, grenades, and machine guns. Tear gas comes through the windows and you are forced outside. Perhaps one or two of your family members are killed, and the rest are forced to march out of the neighborhood.”
Television cameras can’t fully capture the suffering of the thousands of fleeing people, Cook said. “I have been going to the border for the past five days and each day it is worse.” About 130,000 people fled in the week since NATO’s attack resulted in the backlash of Serb activity. Approximately 85,000 people are in Albania, 25,000 in Montenegro, 15,000 in Macedonia, and 2,000 in other countries.
“People are arriving exhausted, traumatized, and terrorized,” the United Nations High Commission on Refugees said. “We are seeing a very serious refugee crisis, which is worsening by the hour.” Most refugees have only the clothes on their backs and small rucksacks with a few personal items, Cook said.
Presbyterian relief
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding to the current crisis in Kosovo with $70,000 to provide short term assistance to refugees, displaced, and war affected persons. The immediate relief assistance of food, hygienic materials, sanitation, shelter, clothing, medicines, and other life sustaining needs will be provided in Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, other neighboring countries, and in areas affected by the escalation in military activities and violence.
Presbyterians can donate money for Kosovo relief to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, using their secure web site.
For more information on what churches and individuals can do, visit the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s webpage on Kosovo.