POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON EFFORTS TO RELOCATE ROMA, ASHKALI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PRISTINA 000043 SIPDIS AIDAC DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/ACE, USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL PREF PINR PHUM ECON KV SUBJECT: POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON EFFORTS TO RELOCATE ROMA, ASHKALI AND EGYPTIANS (RAE) FROM LEAD-CONTAMINATED INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) CAMPS IN NORTHERN KOSOVO PRISTINA 00000043 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Thanks to a partnership between the USG, the European Commission, and the Government of Kosovo (GOK),two lead-contaminated Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in North Mitrovica -- Cesmin Lug and Osterode -- could be closed this year. The camps have been home to over 140 ethnic Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) IDP families for the last ten years. In October 2008, the USG, working closely with GOK authorities, initiated a program to voluntarily resettle approximately 50 of these families, who were suffering from long-term lead poisoning, to an acceptable location in South Mitrovica. The final resettlement of these RAE is now on the horizon. In December 2009, the European Community Liaison Office (ECLO) agreed to partner with the ongoing USD 2.4 million USAID RAE program and committed EUR 5 million to help resettle the remaining 90 families. USAID implementer Mercy Corps plans to begin construction of the new houses, using both USAID and ECLO funds, in Mitrovica South's Roma Mahalla in March-April 2010. Completion of this project will make RAE resettlement and closure of the camps possible by the end of 2010, and cap a successful USG assistance program. END SUMMARY. LEAD TRAILINGS SLOWLY POISONING CAMP RESIDENTS -------------- - ¶2. (U) In fall 1999, UNMIK transferred Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) IDPs to Cesmin Lug and Osterode as part of what was originally planned to be a 45-day temporary refuge. The camps are located near the Trepca heavy metals mining and smelting facility in North Mitrovica, and RAE families have been exposed to lead contamination in the area. While the Trepca facility is now closed, lead tailings remain uncovered, and the residents of the camps, especially children, continue to suffer from lead poisoning, displaying some of the highest blood lead levels recorded in medical literature. This poses a tremendous risk for a lifetime of developmental and behavioral disabilities and other adverse health conditions. The USG has been seized with the issue of the health and safety of Roma IDP camp inhabitants for years. RAE IDPS WANT TO STAY IN MITROVICA -------------- ¶3. (U) In October 2008, after carefully studying past unsuccessful efforts to address the issue, USAID initiated a program designed to provide for sustainable and successful reintegration of the RAE IDPs into Kosovo society. The goals of the program were (1) to resettle and reintegrate 50 of the most distressed families by funding housing, relocation infrastructure, and livelihood; and (2) to catalyze other stakeholders to join efforts leading to sustainable relocation of all camp residents and eventual closure of both camps. Consultation with the RAE community itself was central to the program. These exchanges underscored that the RAE did not want to be resettled outside of Mitrovica, and that this had been one of the main reasons previous resettlement efforts had failed. LOCATING LAND IN SOUTH MITROVICA -------------- ¶4. (U) During spring 2009, representatives from the U.S. Embassy, USAID, and Mercy Corps (the USAID implementer) led an intensive dialogue with camp residents, the Mitrovica Municipality, and Kosovo-Serb parallel authorities in North Mitrovica to find a sustainable solution. As a result of the USG-led dialogue, the Municipality of Mitrovica (South) adopted a plan in May 2009 for allocation of 4.5 hectares of land in Fidanishte/Rasadnik adjacent to the Roma Mahalla, the pre-war dwelling place for many of the camp residents, for resettlement of camp residents. This new land can accommodate up to 180 individual row houses. The consensus among all stakeholders was that resettlement to Mitrovica South with secure access to North Mitrovica was the only realistic option. U.S. ASSISTANCE LEVERAGES EUROPEAN COMMITMENT -------------- PRISTINA 00000043 002.2 OF 003 ¶5. (U) The Kosovo Government, USAID, and European Commission Liaison Office (ECLO) agreed to cooperate and coordinate in all efforts towards implementing this solution, and in summer 2009, a USAID expert developed a joint donor and Kosovo Government plan outlining sequenced actions for sustainable resettlement. Meetings between USAID and camp leaders confirmed that camp leaders and residents were fully committed to the resettlement plan and camp closures. In December 2009, ECLO signed a EUR 5 million contract with Mercy Corps. These resources, leveraged by and coupled with USAID's USD 2.4 million cooperative agreement with Mercy Corps, allowed planning for the resettlement of all the RAE IDP families and closure of Osterode and Cesmin Lug to go forward. UNMIK TRIES TO RE-ENGAGE -------------- ¶6. (U) In November 2009, despite the camp resident and donor consensus to resettle the RAE in Mitrovica South, UNMIK proposed relocating the RAE families to the Danish KFOR Camp in Zhabar/Zabare. Zhabar/Zabare is a 10 minute drive from Mitrovica. Danish KFOR is scheduled to move to Novoselo camp in Vushtrri/Vucitrn during January 2010, and had offered the Zhabar/Zabare facility to UNMIK. UNMIK took the RAE camp leaders to visit the Danish KFOR camp, but they rejected the option of temporarily resettlement in the camp. They made clear to UNMIK that they wanted to move to permanent housing in the Roma Mahalla, as previously agreed with USAID experts, the GOK and other donors. (Note: Many of the families in Osterode were "temporarily" resettled to Osterode in 2006, and were thus reluctant to be resettled to another "temporary" location. End Note) ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES DELAY PROJECT -------------- ¶7. (U) Construction for 50 housing units in South Mitrovica funded by USAID was ready to commence in October 2009, but was delayed because of the need to conduct a formal Environmental Assessment. (Note: This is required under USG environmental regulations. End Note) The current plan is to complete the Environmental Assessment by the end of February and to start construction in March-April ¶2010. Mercy Corps would initiate the resettlement of all families as housing is completed on or about April 2010, accompanied by sequenced dismantling of units in the camps by RAE families on their own. USAID has also engaged a team of lead experts from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to provide concrete recommendations for the enhancement of health services as part of a comprehensive approach to the settlement of RAE in Mitrovica South, scheduled to start in spring of 2010. If the resettlement plan remains on schedule, both Cesmin Lug and Osterode will close by the end of ¶2010. COMMENT: CAMPS MUST CLOSE BEFORE THEY EXPAND -------------- ¶8. (U) A joint commitment from the GOK, ECLO, USAID and camp residents for a durable solution to relocate residents from the contaminated camps in the North to the new settlement in the Roma Mahalla in South Mitrovica allows for an agreement to close the lead-poisoned camps once and for all and to achieve a final resolution of this tragic situation. While the health of current camp residents is certainly sufficient reason for urgent action to close the camps, in addition, the fear that RAE refugees repatriated from Western Europe could swell the camps' population only adds to the urgency. According to OSCE's Human Rights and Communities Department, Germany, Austria and Switzerland are expected to start repatriating Kosovo refugees beginning in January, with Germany alone looking to repatriate 1,000 refugees over the course of the year. A significant number of these refugees are Roma who could take up residence in Cesmin Lug and Osterode, thus further complicating the efforts to resettle current residents and close the PRISTINA 00000043 003.2 OF 003 camps this year. USAID will complete the environmental assessment and move forward jointly with ECLO, the GOK and camp residents to begin construction of new homes and relocation of camp residents to the Roma Mahalla area starting in March-April 2010. We will also continue to monitor the situation with respect to returning refugees. DELL