FYI for all regarding Kosovo refugees:
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
Press Statement
Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
April 23, 1999
1-800 Number Established for Relocating Kosovar Refugees
A toll free phone number--1-800-727-4420--has been set up for persons to call who have relatives among the Kosovo refugee population and who want to assist in their identification and relocation to the United States.
The number was set up by InterAction, a coalition of more than 160 U.S.-based private relief, development and refugee assistance agencies. The State Department, through the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, contracted with InterAction to establish and manage the toll-free line.
As announced by Vice President Gore on April 21, the U.S. is committed to relieve the pressure on Macedonia by providing refuge for up to 20,000 Kosovar Albanian refugees there. The program is designed for refugees in Macedonia who have family ties in the United States, or who are in vulnerable circumstances. The U.S. Government is organizing this effort with international and non-governmental organizations.
If any U.S. residents have relatives among the refugee population in Macedonia and would like to assist in their identification and relocation to the United States, they should contact a voluntary agency that participates in the U.S. refugee program or one of its affiliate offices located in their community. Persons who have relatives among the refugee population in Albania may also call the number to register their interest in family reunification and to provide information on the location of their relatives. However, the focus of this program is Macedonia. To identify the agencies or affiliate offices, interested persons should call the toll free number.
Persons who are not relatives, but who are interested in assisting in the relocation of Kosovar refugees in U.S. communities, may also call the toll free number to register their offers of support. |
