(27 Apr 1999) Eng/Albanian/Nat
Hundreds of refugees from Kosovo crossed into Macedonia on Tuesday, amid reports that thousands more are on their way to the border.
Following Monday's mass arrival of 3-thousand refugees, the border between the two countries at Blace was relatively quiet on Tuesday.
However, tens of thousands more refugees are reported to be on the move and aid agencies are hearing reports of severe food shortages among the ethnic Albanian population still within Kosovo.
The tide of human misery at Blace border crossing continues.
The crossing point between Kosovo and Macedonia saw the arrival of three-thousand refugees on Monday.
And, after a quiet start on Tuesday, more began arriving in groups of around one-hundred at a time.
There are reports that tens of thousands of additional refugees are on the move, leaving the Kosovo town of Urosevac.
Macedonian state radio said up to 30-thousand were heading for the border.
Those arriving on Tuesday included this man from the Vuciturn area, 22 kilometres (13 miles) from Pristina.
He was hoping to be reunited with relatives in Macedonia.
SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"My family is here. They are from Novo Sela. Last night they killed three of my cousins aged 35 to 60."
SUPERCAPTION: Vehbi Feka, refugee from Vuciturn.
As well as horrific tales of killings and violence, World Food Programme workers are hearing increasing reports of severe food shortages.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"What seems to be happening is that in certain towns, the Serbian military are laying siege to certain parts by shelling and grenades and then they are systematically clearing them of food. People say they are not allowed to buy food from the Serbian shops. The Albanian shops have been looted and they food from them is on the black market, but the black market prices are out of the reach."
Lindsay Davis, World Food Programme spokeswoman
Aid workers fear that if thousands of possibly starving refugees suddenly appear en-masse, they will be unable to cope.
The latest wave of Kosovo refugees has arrived in Macedonia to find overcrowded tent camps and unsanitary conditions.
Aid organisations are scrambling to find room for the new arrivals in the country's six refugee camps.
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