Tensions are growing in FYR Macedonia between the two ethnic groups.
The conflict, which has so far been limited to fighting between two
armed groups, threatens to spill over into the civilian population
and lead to widespread bloodshed. This latest concern was seen yesterday
when several thousand Macedonians demonstrated outside parliament
in the capital Skopje.
The demonstrators were angry about a deal brokered and implemented
by NATO and European Union envoys that allowed ethnic Albanian rebels
to leave the village of Aracinovo close to the capital and return
to guerilla-held territory. A group of police reservists even entered
the parliament firing gunshots.
"Albanians are in a panic and everyone is preparing to leave", a
young ethnic Albanian is quoted as saying in a media report. The situation
is described as extremely tense with threats against ethnic Albanians.
According to UNHCR more than 100,000 people are displaced including
over 65,000 refugees in Kosovo and some 6,000 in Serbia. 15,000 people
are said to be internally displaced inside the FYR Macedonia at the
moment. Furthermore, there is an estimated 150,000 ethnic Albanians
in Skopje - potential IDPs should the conflict escalate.
ACT member Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC)
will submit a proposal for an ACT appeal for FYR Macedonia before
the end of the week. Through this appeal MCIC will reach out to internally
displaced persons (IDPs) accommodated in collective centers around
Skopje and to the rural population living in villages with reduced
access.
Other ACT members in the region (mainly in Kosovo and Albania) will
closely monitor the continuous influx of refugees from Macedonia and
plan an emergency response accordingly.
