United Nations Interim Administration
Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
and Kosovar Refugees
On 10 June 1999, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1244
authorizing the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
(UNMIK) to begin the long process of building peace, democracy, stability
and self-government in the shattered province.
To achieve this goal, UNMIK acts as the transitional administration
for the region. Working closely with Kosovo's leaders and citizens,
the mission performs the whole spectrum of vital administrative
functions and services covering such areas as health and education,
banking and finance, post and telecommunications, and law and order,
and assuring the safe and unimpeded return of all refugees and displaced
persons to their homes in Kosovo.
UNMIK provides administrative structures, deployed civilian police, and provided emergency assistance for returning refugees and displaced
persons, restored public services including the training of local police and
judiciary.
The following photos were taken in April 1999,
just prior to the creation of UNMIK, showing the conditions
of Kosovar refugees:
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More than 200,000 ethnic Albanians were displaced inside Kosovo since the beginning of the conflict in March 1998. These children live in makeshift shelters in the wooded hills near Nekovce. (UN Photo# 202451C) |
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Kosovar refugees fleeing their homeland near Blace area, former Republic Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (March 1999). (UN Photo# 202461C) |
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Kosovar refugees fleeing their homeland.(UN Photo# 202465) |
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Kosovar refugees fleeing their homeland. (UN Photo# 202466C) |
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In Kukes, Albania, these Kosovar refugee boys carry their family's bread rations (April 1999). (UN/UNHCR Photo# 202477C by R. Chalasani) |
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View of makeshift camp in the region of Blace, on the border between Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Up to 65,000 Kosovar refugees were caught inthis no-man's land before being allowed to enter the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia several days after (April 1999). (UN Photo# 202478C) |
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The British Aid agency, OXFAM, installing a water supply system at Stankovac 1 near Brazde. This camp is the first major reception site established by NATO, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) help and is located several kilometers from the Kosovo border (April 1999). (UN/UNHCR Photo# 202481C by H.J. Davies) |
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A refugee family at Stankovac 1 uses portable satellite phones to try ot contact relatives. The phones are provided by the French aid agency, Telecom sans frontiere. (UN/UNHCR Photo# 202484C) |
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A soldier holds a booby trap mine. The rate of mine accidents among the returning Kosovars is expected to increase as the population returns to work in the fields and begin to collect firewood for the winter. (UN Photo# 202494C) |
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This 13-year-old girl, in Pristina, lost both legs to a booby trapped mine. 70% of mine victims among the Kosovar returnees are under the age of 24. (UN Photo# 202495C) |
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