Postcard from Kosovo
The Head of UNICEF Office in Kosovo, Mr. Robert Fuderich, highlights key monthly achievements and priorities Postcard #2: March 21, 2006
Dear friends of Kosovo children, Winter and snow, for some children, it’s time for fun and laughter, for others, it means cold weather and eventual spring flooding. Kosovo is no exception and this month has seen both freezing temperatures and sporadic flooding. One of the many places affected by the flooding was the Kablar camp in Mitrovice/Mitrovica, which houses 30 families from the Roma camp who have been displaced since the war in 1999. While a rapid response from local authorities reduced the worst possible hygiene and health consequences for children in Kablar, concerns remained about the general conditions of the camp and the dangers of lead contamination from the now defunct local industrial mining complex. An alternative site has been identified and since the 20th March, 10 families have moved to Osterode. It is hoped that the remaining families will now also finally leave Kablar and that families of two similarly affected camps will move there. Residents in all the camp now know the dangers of lead poisoning-and how to protect children against it- thanks to a UNICEF/WHO health and hygiene education campaign funded by the US Government. On behalf of the children living in this squalor, we would like to thank the US Government for their support for this successful door-to-door campaign. We hope this knowledge and awareness will be followed with improved family practices on all health and hygiene issues in general. On the issue of social communication for behavior change, this week UNICEF launched the second part of the Better Parenting Initiative (BPI) package. This package aims to provide all parents with children aged from 3 to 6 with basic accessible information on the best practices for early childhood. The first part of this initiative, covered parents with infants up to age 3. The two sets of material now offer scientific and evidence-based care and development practices for parents until their children enter school. This project was made possible with the generous funding of the UK National Committee for UNICEF. The parents and children thank the Committee for their support. This package supports efforts to achieve the aspirations of the international Millennium Declaration-by reducing child and maternal mortality and improving the development of children. And finally, I would like to make our friends aware that the UN Kosovo Team is alive and kicking. The traditional Development and Relief Agencies, such as UNDP, WHO, UNFPA, UNHCR, OHCHR, UNIFEM, UNHABITAT, FAO, UNICEF and others, are working together in a coordinated way to ensure that Kosovo achieves the Millennium Development Goals. Over the last two months, the group has started to design several joint projects, one with a focus on reducing mother and child mortality and the other on gender equality. These initiatives will bring Kosovo closer to these Goals. Again, I would like to thank all of you who have made Kosovo a bit better for children and encouraged us to continue these efforts. As we have said before, a Kosovo fit for children is a Kosovo fit for all. Let’s all unite for children! Regards to all, Rob Head of Office rfuderich@unicef.org
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