Albania: Procedures in place to process persons fleeing the Kosovo region of Serbia; treatment of persons who arrived at the border with or without documents; treatment of persons who had relatives in Albania; whether all persons were put in refugee camps; and whether they were issued identity documents (April - June 1999)

A 21 May 1999 fact sheet from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) states that, according to estimates provided by the Government of Albania Emergency Management Group (EMG), 68,909 Kosovar refugees were living in "tent camps", 91,323 in "collective centres" and 305,592 had been accommodated by 37,360 Albanian families.

The USAID fact sheet also states that the UNHCR was registering all refugees in Albania using computer equipment and was issuing  ID cards "as a way to track their movement, which will help to decrease double counting."

An 11 June 1999 AFP report provides the following information on identity papers issued to Kosovar refugees prior their return to Kosovo in June 1999:

Another essential task is to begin printing new identity papers for the refugees. Most of those who fled to Albania had to hand in their documents before crossing the border. Their personal papers, such as property deeds were burned along with their homes and it is feared many more files will have disappeared from official buildings in Kosovo. Procuring new identity papers for the refugees under the control of the UNHCR and the Albanian authorities is a job which has been on the cards for more than two months. But an agreement was signed early in June and the operation is expected to get underway in about 10 days, the HCR said. Western "supervisors" have been assigned to each Albanian province and each registration centre, the UNHCR said. The lists of refugees are already drawn up and most received a document when they entered Albania. "An anti fraud system has been established", with the aid of the U.S. firm Microsoft which has also provided all the necessary equipment. Identity cards will be plasticised, complete with photograph and finger prints, computerised signature and two codebars containing all the requisite person information.

According to an 11 June 1999 Update to the UNHCR Kosovo Return Plan for the Kosovo refugees in Albania and Macedonia:

Refugees must be given freedom of movement to cross the  border into Kosovo. Given the destruction of many Kosovar's  identity documents, returnees need to be admitted irrespective of whether or not they possess identity documents. Prior residence should be assumed and any verification for the  purpose of identity and other personal documents should be done only after return and by the simplest of measures. Otherdocuments to establish identity, such as refugee registration or ration cards, should be also be recognised as legitimate for return. If necessary, UNHCR will establish mechanisms to provide ad hoc documents prior to border crossing for those in need. UNHCR will also organise "go and see visits" for  refugees where required to assess conditions of return and to  return to neighbouring countries/provinces, which will require freedom of movement across border crossing points.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 11 June 1999. "Aid Workers warn of "Spontaneous' Return to Kosovo." (FBIS-EEU-1999-0610 11 June 1999/WNC)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Update as to 11 June 1999. UNHCR Kosovo Return Plan. [Accessed 29 June 2000]

United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Humanitarian Response (BHR) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). 21 May 1999. Factsheet No. 56. Kosovo Crisis: Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Kosovo." [Accessed: 29 June 2000]