Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Northern Kosovo faces shortage of food, medicine- UPDATE

Supplies of Imlek dairy products were depleted three days ago, and the last stockpiles of meat, meat products and confectionery are running out. Wheat, yeast, bottled water, fruits and vegetables are also in short supply. Beta news agency said that vans were bringing bread, milk, and newspapers to Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavic and Lesak this morning from the town of Raska.

The closure of the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative checkpoints has stopped deliveries of bread and milk from Raska to Lesak, Leposavic and Kosovska Mitrovica in northern Kosovo.

Supplies of Imlek dairy products were depleted three days ago, and the last stockpiles of meat, meat products and confectionery are running out. Wheat, yeast, bottled water, fruits and vegetables are also in short supply.

People are queuing in front of gas stations and newspapers are scant.

The Kosovska Mitrovica health center has issued warnings of being low on medicine and other supplies required for treating Serbs and other non-Albanians living in the province.
Despite the difficult situation
, local citizens aren't complaining too much. They main worry is how the situation at the administrative checkpoints will end.
Internal Affairs Minister Bajram Rexhepi said Sunday his government was ready tp supply citizens in the northern part of the country with necessary goods to make up for the sever of commercial ties with neighboring Serbia.
The government of Kosovo is working on providing large quantities of food and other products that used to be imported from Serbia, Rexhepi told the Pristina TV.
Beta news agency said that vans were bringing bread, milk, and newspapers to Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavic and Lesak this morning from the town of Raska.

Passenger cars, vans and buses are allowed across the checkpoints, but not trucks.

The vehicles stop briefly for routine checks before being let through.

Jarinje and Brnjak reopened on Sunday after the NATO-led troops in the province, KFOR, shut them down completely.

Serbs in the north warned that they would face a humanitarian disaster, with shortages of food and medical supplies looming
.

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