(16 May 1999) English/Nat
Around 4-hundred ethnic Albanian refugees arrived in Blace, Macedonia Sunday morning, following the reopening of the border crossing from Kosovo on Saturday.
They came from Urosevac, thirty-six kilometres south of Pristina.
Hundreds more from the town arrived in Macedonia on Saturday.
Hundreds of refugees from Urosevac crossed into Macedonia on Sunday following the reopening of the border crossing a day earlier.
They bring with them unverified reports of the Serbian authorities depriving them of access to food and water.
They claim they were forced onto trains bound for Blace and many say their homes were destroyed.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
'Whatever food they did have stored up, they would share with other families-most of that is now gone. They also said that their homes have been destroyed in many cases. One family also said that Serb forces had moved into there villages and had taken over the housing.'
SUPER CAPTION: Ron Redmond, UNHCR spokesman
Serbian border patrols on horseback can be seen in the distance.
High above, NATO jets prowl the skies.
The Urosevac people say there are tens of thousands of others wanting to reach the safety of Macedonia.
At least here, water proof tents await them.
And families are able to reflect on what has happened to them and their province.
They say those left behind fear the Serb forces who now control the countryside.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"So its a very very difficult situation. People are going hungry. The also say that the security situation is very bad. One family we spoke to said that every morning the police would come to their house at 5 a.m., knock on their door, demand money, demand jewellery. They say they have been wiped out. They say that nothing of value has been left in their apartment."
SUPER CAPTION: Ron Redmond, UNHCR spokesman
Urosevac was targeted by NATO's "Operation Allied Force" as recently as Sunday morning, concentrating on a military relay station.
Macedonia has taken in nearly one-third of the 780-thousand ethnic Albanian refugees who have fled or been expelled by Serb forces from the Yugoslav province.
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