The Beginning

Some of the projects realized in the past are: UNHCR Winter Fuel Program, covering approximately 49.000 refugees in 490 collective centres and fresh food to approximately 40.000 refugees in 588 refugee CCs; Mobile Medical Refugee Assistance Project (MMRA) providing staffing support and medical supplies for over 15.000 refugees in 220 CCs; Kosovo Emergency Winterisation Project (KEWP) - supplying winter relief items to IDPs and vulnerable persons in Kosovo; ECHO funded shelter and relief projects in Kosovo etc.

In November 1999, CARE started with the implementation of two ECHO funded programs, targeting Specialized Institutions. Under the first project 107 specialised institutions in Serbia housing 23.826 beneficiaries were provided with winter fuel – heating oil and coal, and power generators for the pumps of central heating systems.

The other project implemented at that time was Humanitarian Assistance for specialized institutions in Vojvodina. Supplementary food items, basic hygiene items and appropriate winter clothing for vulnerable persons were provided for 13.550 beneficiaries living in some 70 specialised institutions throughout this province.

In December 1999. the UNICEF funded project started, providing heating fuel. This project provided heating to 68 maternity wards and social institutions for children (15.489 beneficiaries) throughout Serbia. In order to protect the well being of mothers and newly born babies, emergency repairs were provided in addition to the provision of fuel.

Since April 2000, in cooperation with the WFP, basic food items were distributed to 412 CC and 64 institutions in Serbia, covering a total of 40.140 beneficiaries. As of April 2001, CARE Yugoslavia took over distribution of basic food items, for 120 000 pensioners and social cases in Serbia.

In the health sector, CARE has provided medical equipment, vehicles, and technical assistance to Patronage Teams in 8 municipalities of Vojvodina (ECHO funded).

Besides these, there are also a number of local initiative projects funded by various donors.

CARE Yugoslavia today has daily contact with more than 39.000 refugees living in 486 collective centres, 235 specialized institutions, and 25.000 refugees living with host families or in private accommodation in local communities. Thanks to its extensive experience in needs assessment, data collection, analysis, design of distribution networks and setting up of monitoring systems, CARE is well prepared to expand its activities.

Having a wide distribution network in place through relief programs, CARE has recently expanded its projects to Southern Serbia. Currently, CARE is implementing the following assistance programs in this area: distribution of basic food (WFP founded) and fresh food (UNHCR founded) to all refugees and IDPs accommodated in collective centers, delivering fuel under the UNICEF Winter Heating Program to maternity wards, collective centers and kindergartens, as well as implementation of a number of self-reliance projects around the country.

The focus of CARE’s humanitarian activities is increasingly more moving toward development projects, aiming at alleviating refugees, IDPs and economically disadvantaged families’ reliance on external aid.

CARE Yugoslavia is also planning to implement a 14-month local economic development program. There will be 3 main components in the rural community based program that includes: a) small business skills trainings, b) micro-credit facility, and c) assistance to Centers for Social Welfare.