Trail of Tears in Kosovo
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Support the American Red Cross:
International Response to Kosovo Refugees

Turned out of their homes at gunpoint … separated from other family members … carrying only the clothes on their backs … seeking safety and an uncertain welcome in a foreign land…. That is the story for thousands of refugees who have been forced to flee the Kosovo province of the Federal Republic Yugoslavia during the latest phase of a bitter internal conflict that has torn the country apart.

This grave humanitarian crisis has been building for many long, tense months. Now, as NATO planes launch airstrikes over Yugoslavia, the situation has grown even more desperate. Hundreds of thousands of Kosovars -- mainly women, children, and the elderly -- are crossing the borders into Albania, Macedonia, and the Yugoslavian Republic of Montenegro.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as many as 550,000 people have been displaced in Kosovo -- a quarter of the province's population. In less than a week's time, almost 100,000 refugees have poured into Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro; and even more are expected as the conflict continues to escalate. The majority of these refugees, some experiencing extreme emotional trauma, have few or no resources for shelter or food, and many of them are turning to the Red Cross for assistance.

This massive displacement of people requires an extensive, well-organized humanitarian response. To help meet the refugees' immediate needs for food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention, the American Red Cross is cooperating with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), as well as the National Red Cross Societies in Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Albania, and Bosnia-Herzogovina. All assistance is provided in accordance with Red Cross principles of neutrality and impartiality.

The American Red Cross has been active in the region since 1993, providing humanitarian assistance to Muslims, Serbs, and Croats alike at a cost of more than $35 million. Recently, Steve Bullock, Acting President of the American Red Cross, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to assist the most vulnerable victims of this conflict, saying, "The American Red Cross, as part of the global Red Cross movement, is acting in coordination with colleagues from the ICRC, the IFRC, and the National Red Cross Societies in the region to position relief supplies and personnel to meet a growing range of humanitarian needs. According to assessments, the populations with the most dire human needs in the region will be women, children, and the elderly." No matter what happens in the days and weeks ahead, the Red Cross will be there, supporting the vital humanitarian mission that the world relies on us to provide.

There will be no quick solution to this crisis. In the weeks and months to come, the Red Cross will concentrate on providing the resources to meet the refugees' basic needs. But there is also a critical need for long-term solutions as these people who have been left with nothing try to rebuild their lives. The Red Cross must also help Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro -- countries with limited resources and fragile economies -- as they try to respond to the pressing needs of thousands of refugees who are pouring across their borders.

The fastest and most effective way to help the victims of this conflict is through cash donations. The American Red Cross is unable to accept any collections or individual offers of in-kind goods. Those who wish to support the people affected by the conflict in Yugoslavia, including Kosovo, can contribute to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013, or call 1-800-HELP-NOW (435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make an online credit card contribution by filling out a donation form and choosing "International Response Fund" as their giving option.