Kosovo Security Force - Helping All the Communities

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2 Kosovo Security Force - Helping All the Communities The Ministry for Kosovo Security Force (MKSF) and the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) give a lot of importance to Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and CIMIC projects since they bring both organizations closer to the people of Kosovo and support them in their needs. The goal of MKSF is to make KSF trusted, beneficial and visible throughout Kosovo and among all communities. One of the ways to achieve this is by carrying out CIMIC projects that aim to improve the living conditions of Kosovo citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation. The MKSF CIMIC Department coordinates activities between KSF and civilian authorities, including the population, national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations and agencies. Its core task is to promote the mission of KSF among all ethnic communities and build confidence in KSF. from the snow and providing medical assistance; from digging out water channels and providing electricity to educating children on unexploded ordnance risks and blood donation. Many CIMIC projects have been and are being carried out in cooperation and with the assistance of international organizations, local municipalities and non-governmental organizations. For KSF, it is an opportunity to establish good relations and enhance cooperation with all ethnic communities, acquire new and needed experience, develop its professional capabilities and show that KSF is a reliable, trustworthy, active and visible organization that serves all people of Kosovo. By continuing to provide loyal and dedicated service to the country, KSF serves as a positive role model for the whole society of Kosovo. In order to ensure good governance and increase transparency on assessing submitted requests to implement CIMIC projects, MKSF has introduced a new process for considering and prioritizing requests submitted by municipalities. The CIMIC projects application form is posted on the MKSF web site in Albanian, Serbian and English. This publication gives a short overview of all CIMIC projects carried out from 2010 to 2012 and highlights a few of them. Special attention is paid to humanitarian assistance provided to all ethnic communities living in Kosovo. This publication also highlights demining activities carried out by the KSF EOD Company. The increasing number of requests that MKSF receives from local municipalities gives evidence of the qualification and competence of KSF members involved in CIMIC projects. It is also an example of excellent cooperation between the KSF and local communities and reconfirms that KSF is fully dedicated to support the people of Kosovo with all available means, at any time. Humanitarian assistance provided by the KSF can be divided in three main areas: infrastructure, safety and health, and education. The executed civil-military projects vary from building roads and houses for returnees to clearing roads 2 3

3 Insight into Civil-Military Projects KSF Supports Exhumation Works in Zhilivodë/Žilivode Thirteen years after the end of the war in Kosovo, of the people who were reported missing to the International Red Cross by their families are still unaccounted for. In August 2010, EULEX started exhumation works in Zhilivodë in order to investigate a suspected mass grave. This was the largest exhumation site inspected to date; the site consisted of seven thousand square meters and twelve coalmines that were connected by underground tunnels. Because of the size of the area, the EULEX Department of Forensic Medicine was logistically supported by the KSF, which used heavy machinery to dig 30 m into the ground where the alleged mass grave was suspected of being located. The underground excavations took twenty-four weeks during 2011 and 2012 and the entire location was examined. After a thorough inspection, no evidence of human remains was found. KSF remains committed to assist EULEX in searching remains of missing individuals. KSF Reconstructs the Road Connecting Orllan/Orlane and Turuçicë/Turučica In the spring of 2012, KSF repaired a 5.5 km road between the villages of Orllan/Orlane and Turuçicë/Turučica in the municipality of Podujevë/Podujevo, thus improving the living conditions of villagers and facilitating their access to a local school. KSF Engineer Battalion specialists reconstructed the road. The gravel and other materials to fill and level the road were provided by the community and businessmen of Turuçicë village. During the opening ceremony for the repaired road, the Minister of Kosovo Security Force, Agim Çeku, stressed that CIMIC projects are very important because they bring KSF closer to the people of our country and support them in their needs. 4 5

4 KSF Removes Ruins in the Village of Nekovc/Nekovce In August 2012, a KSF Engineer Unit removed the ruins of a former school that was destroyed during the last war in Kosovo in Nekovc/Nekovce village, municipality of Drenas/ Glogovac. A total of cubic meters of rubble (over 170 trucks) was removed. KSF Opens a Road in Junik/Junik Municipality In June 2012, after finishing with the Turuçicë/Turučica project, KSF Engineer Battalion specialists started opening a road in Junik/Junik Municipality. KSF supports the road opening with manpower and machinery (widening, leveling and graveling), while fuel and gravel are provided by the Municipality. The whole length of the road is 7 km and it is planned to be finalized in November Junik/ Junik Municipality is among the most recently established municipalities in Kosovo, and the government s priority is to support its development. KSF Assists Citizens during Heavy Snowfalls The winter of 2012 was one of the coldest and snowiest winters in Kosovo in the last few decades. In January and February, KSF was actively involved in clearing roads KSF Renovates the Mother and Child Care Center In the spring of 2012, KSF started renovation works at the Rehabilitation Center for Mother and Child in Prishtinë/ Priština/Priština. The Humanitarian Assistance Fund of the United States European Command (EUCOM) provided financial support for the project, whereas engineers of KSF carried out the renovation works, spending more than 700 hours there. This was the first project of this kind that throughout Kosovo (Prishtinë/Priština/Priština, Kaçanik/ Kačanik, Lipjan/Lipljan/Lipljan, Podujevë/Podujevo, Shtërpcë/Štrpce, Malishevë/Mališevo, Vushtrri/Vučitrn, Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, Ferizaj/Uroševac/Uroševac, Graçanicë/Gračanica and other municipalities) and supplying citizens with medicine, food and other essentials. EUCOM was doing in cooperation with KSF. A kindergarten will be opened in the renovated facilities, and its fees will be used to take care of 47 orphans who can enjoy various activities at the Center, such as singing, dancing, painting, sports, computer classes, as well as English and German language classes. Alongside these activities, the Center provides the orphans with food, clothing and school supplies. In February, KSF rescued 50 children of Hasan Prishtina elementary school who were entrapped in Brezovicë ski resort after an avalanche closed the roads. KSF members and students of the University of Physical Education escorted the pupils on foot and helped them to walk 3 km to safety. February brought a big tragedy for Kosovo. On the morning of February 11, an avalanche in the village of Restelicë took the lives of ten people. Hundreds of KSF members, police, 6 7

5 firefighters and local villagers worked for several days, searching for citizens buried under the snow and rubble of collapsed houses. The search and rescue works resulted in saving the life of a five-year-old girl. KSF outstanding efforts and professionalism in searching and rescuing victims of the avalanche were also highly appreciated by KFOR. The tragedy in Restelicë/Restalica village proved that KSF is capable of coping with very difficult situations and supporting the citizens of Kosovo. Common efforts of all involved state agencies (government, KSF, police, Crisis Management Agency, Government Situation Center, local municipalities) and their coordinated actions were essential for the successful search and rescue operation. KSF Supports Blood Donation Activity For several years, KSF members have been active supporters of the voluntary action for blood donation. In July 2012, during the blood drive, KSF donated over 450 units of blood. KSF also provided several units of antidote serum to the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK). It is very important at a time when the requirement for blood is high and when over 150 doses of blood are needed within 24 hours to cover the UCCK needs. By supporting humanitarian actions for blood donation organized by the National Center for Blood Transfusion, KSF sets a great example for other citizens of Kosovo. KSF Supports Environmental Awareness Activities KSF shares the country s goal of passing on to future generations a safe and clean environment. Each citizen of Kosovo is obliged to preserve and protect the environment. Therefore, in the spring of 2012, KSF members participated in Earth Day activities by planting trees in Mitrovicë/ Kosovska Mitrovica/Kosovska Mitrovica Municipality and the Land Force Command. On May 24, sharing this goal, KSF members joined the campaign Clean up Kosovo. During this campaign, seven barracks and their surrounding areas were cleaned. Moreover, KSF also actively supported many municipalities all over Kosovo in their clean up activities, working together with thousands of volunteers to make the country a place everyone enjoys and is proud of. KSF Supports People with Disabilities In May 2012, a rally to raise awareness about people with disabilities was held in Prizren/Prizren. The rally started in the central square of the town and continued up the hill to Prizren/Prizren Fortress. KSF members supported participants of the rally by helping to push or carry wheelchairs and offering any other assistance. 8 9

6 CIMIC Projects for Ethnic Communities CIMIC projects instill not only greater trust in KSF, but also in the government and its institutions. They are especially important with regard to the Serbian community. Kosovo Government wants to see all communities that live in the country fully integrated and to make them feel that Kosovo is a home to them and their children. Since 2009, the MKSF Community Affairs Office actively cooperates with ethnic communities in Kosovo. The aim of this cooperation is to inform them about KSF mission and duties, thus building a bridge of greater trust in KSF. The beginning of cooperation and implementation of humanitarian projects in ethnic communities was challenging, but by providing practical and much needed support to communities, KSF is accruing increasing trust and confidence. Dragolec/Dragoljevac was the first Serb-inhabited village that KSF has supported within the framework of CIMIC projects. The construction of 17 houses for Serbian returnees started in the summer of 2010, supported by Istog Municipality and the Ministry for Communities and Returns. The KSF Engineer Battalion cleared up the ground to set up tents, dug water channels, provided electricity, widened the road and helped in clearing the ground to build new houses. During the implementation of the project, the Italian and Slovenian KFOR contingents provided valuable support. This village received more support on May 24, 2012 during the Big Clean-up Day, KSF helped Dragolec/Dragoljevac to clean up the surrounding area. Dragolec/Dragoljevac is an excellent example of cooperation between the Serbian community and KSF, and excellent encouragement for other ethnic communities. At the request of the municipality, the KSF team expanded the riverbed and cleaned 230 m of the river, thus saving territories that lay on the both sides of the river from floods. In the winter 2011/2012, MKSF organized mine awareness lectures in elementary schools of ethnic communities. Lectures were delivered in 15 schools and were attended by around 650 Bosnian, Serbian and Turkish schoolchildren. Since 2010, a KSF Medical Team provides medical assistance to the Serbian community. Every second Friday, KSF medics visit Dragolec/Dragoljevac, Serbobran/Srbobran and Zallç/Žalč villages and offer free medical check-up to the population there. The support is much appreciated since most of the villagers do not have financial means to travel to Mitrovicë/Kosovska Mitrovica and receive medical assistance there. The inhabitants of these villages are willing to continue cooperating with KSF due to its professional performance. Humanitarian Demining in Kosovo Although the Kosovo Demining Program has been an unprecedented achievement, mines and unexploded ordnances are still a great danger for the citizens of Kosovo. As a consequence of the last war in Kosovo, from 1999 through 2012, mines have caused the death of 115 people, and 454 citizens have been injured by unexploded ordnances. Currently, 57 areas are marked as dangerous and 44 as suspected. Zallç/Žalč is another Serb-inhabited village that is located in Istog municipality. Like in Dragolec/Dragoljevac back in 2010, 17 houses for Serbian returnees were built with the active involvement of KSF Engineer Battalion. Throughout 2012, KSF assisted this village with continuous free medical check-up and a road reconstruction project. The municipality of Lipjan/Lipljan is located in central Kosovo and includes Lipjan/Lipljan town and 62 villages. Out of inhabitants of the municipality, around are Kosovo Serbs. For many years, Lipjan/Lipljan municipality faced serious problems caused by Sitnica River

7 Humanitarian demining in Kosovo is carried out by the KSF EOD Company and organizations accredited by the Mine Action Center (MAC). The MKSF MAC coordinates and is a point of contact for all humanitarian demining activities in Kosovo. In its EOD response activities, the EOD Company cooperates closely with Kosovo Police, KFOR and MAC. Currently, the EOD Company deals with conventional explosives, while improvised explosive devices fall under KFOR authority. In order to develop C o m p a n y s capabilities, the U.S. plans to support them in acquiring the skills needed to deal with improvised explosive devices. From 1999 through 2011, almost 48 million square meters of Kosovo territory have been cleared. In , KSF demining teams have cleared square meters; they have found and neutralized mines and unexploded devices. The KSF EOD Company consists of three demining platoons, and an EOD emergency response platoon. These teams are trained by UK specialists, work according to International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Humanitarian demining activities are carried out according to an annual plan that is prepared according to mine and UXO (unexploded ordnance) clearance priorities. The equipment used by KSF demining teams was mostly donated or inherited from Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). New equipment is needed in order to minimize risks and protect demining specialists from injuries. Therefore, the acquisition of new personal protective equipment for the EOD Company is planned in the near future. Throughout 2012, KSF demining teams have been engaged in Dobroçan/Dobročane/Dobročane, Ferizaj/Uroševac, Hajvali/Ajvalija, Harilaç/Arilak, Luzhnicë/Lužane, and several battlefields, such as Koshare/Košare, Belenicë/ Belance and others. Each year, KSF EOD Company specialists deliver mine risks education at schools and public information on threats that remain in the country. The Mine Action Center has assisted in checking for and clearing mines in Serbian cemeteries in Prishtinë/Priština and Lipjan/Lipljan. In 2011, a KSF EOD Team cleared the yard and St. Nicholas Church cemetery in Prishtinë/ Priština from an unexploded device. KSF EOD teams also supported the GSV (go and see visits) for displaced persons of the Serbian community at the request of humanitarian organizations like the Danish Refugee Council. Remark: all the vehicles and equipment seen in the photos belong to KSF

8 List of Humanitarian Projects and Other Community Activities Implemented in No. Project Description of Works Location Date 1 Klinë Construction of a dam to collect waters for orphanage needs Klinë Support to the Department of Health and Social Welfare, Ferizaj/Uroševac Transporting of mattresses from Student Center Prishtinë/ Priština to Ferizaj/Uroševac Prishtinë/Priština Ferizaj/Uroševac Support to the Municipality 4 Support to National Theater of Kosovo (NTK) Mitrovicë/Kosovska Mitrovica municipality was supported as per the request of RRB 2 nd Battalion Mitrovicë/Kosovska Mitrovica-Shkodër/ Skadar Support to NTK with two trucks Prishtinë/Priština Support to SOS Kinderdorf in Kosovo Transportation of 50 children of SOS Kinderdorf to Prekaz/ Prekaze SOS-Kinderdorf- Prekaz/Prekaze and back Mine Awareness Education on mine and UXO risks Han i Elezit and Kaçanik Support to AUK Charity Club Support with a tent for AUK Charity Club on World Down Syndrome Day for Down Syndrome Kosova 8 Stanet 2011 Expanding and paving a road, in support of KFOR Prishtinë/Priština Burrnik/Burnik- Ferizaj/Uroševac Batllavë/Batlava Cleaning of Batllavë lake Batllavë/Batlava Organization of Children with Disabilities Kosova OPFAKKOS - Pejë KSF support to OPFAKKOS in Pejë for the summer camp Rugovë Sports activities Football competition between MKSF, Kosovo Police, KFOR and EULEX 12 Action Blood Donation 13 Javor/Javor, Suharekë/ Suva Reka municipality Pejë-Peć-Rugovë/ Rugova Mountains Prishtinë/Priština, big stadium Blood donation KSF barracks Construction of a house roof Javor/Javor

9 14 Special Institute in Shtime/Štimlje 15 Support to Orienteering Club Prishtinë/ Priština Leveling and earth removal Shtime/Štimlje Support to map and compass Prishtinë/Priština orienteering competition 16 Project in Shtuticë/ Štutica village Leveling and removal of earth from the school yard Shtuticë/Štutica- Drenas/Glogovac Field Exercise in Skenderaj/Srbica Participation in HAZMAT operations and logistic support Skenderaj/Srbica Project in the Fshati i Ri/Novo Selo Construction and expansion of a 2 km road Fshati i Ri/Novo Selo Support to SOS Kinderdorf in Kosovo Transportation of 60 children of SOS Kinderdorf to Prekaz/ Prekaze SOS-Kinderdorf- Prekaz/Prekaze and back Medical Assistance to Serbian community Medical assistance Zallç/Žalč, Dragolec/ Dragoljevac, Serbobran/Srbobran ongoing 20 Leveling and filling of potholes with gravel Leveling and filling of potholes with gravel Zallç/Žalč First two weeks of January Clearing of roads from the snow in mountainous areas Clearing of roads from the snow in mountainous areas Prishtinë/Priština Podujevë, Kaçanik, Ferizaj/Uroševac, Malishevë/Mališevo, Lipjan/Lipljan, Dragash/Dragaš, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Viti/ Vitina, Novobërdë/ Novo Brdo, Vushtrri/ Vučitrn, Mitrovicë/ Kosovska Mitrovica, Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, Shtërpcë/ Štrpce, Istog/Istok, Graçanicë/Gračanica, Ranillug/Raniluk, Junik/Junik, Obiliq/ Obilić January February

10 22 Mine awareness lectures, including schools for ethnic communities Mine awareness lectures Elementary schools Leveling of gravel Leveling of gravel Elementary school Gjergj Fishta in Jagodë/Jagoda, Klinë/ Klina Road reconstruction Road reconstruction Orllan/Orlane Turuçicë/Turučica, Podujevë/Podujevo Removal of earth to clear the cemetery 24 Mother and Child Center Removal of earth to clear the cemetery Reconstruction works at Mother and Child Center Podujevë/Podujevo Prishtinë/Priština Earth Day Tree planting KSF Land Force Command and Mitrovicë/Kosovska Mitrovica 26 Cleaning project Let s do it Kosova Cleaning works All over Kosovo Organization of Disabled People (muscular dystrophy) Support with personnel and transport Prizren/Prizren Visit of students of an elementary school from Preshevë/Preševo Valley Visit of students of an elementary school from Preshevë/Preševo Valley 29 Expansion of the road Expansion of the road in Junik/ Junik KSF Land Force Command Junik/Junik Mountains ongoing 30 Organization OPFAKKOS Support with tents Prishtinë/Priština VICTORY College Support with personnel Prishtinë/Priština Kosovo Olympic Club Support with personnel Prishtinë/Priština

11 33 Mitrovicë/Kosovska Mitrovica Municipality 34 Ethno Fest Festival, Prishtinë/Priština 35 National Blood Transfusion Center 36 Kosovo Police Training Academy Support with personnel Support with camp beds, tents and portable toilets Vesekovc/Vesekovac, Mitrovicë/Kosovska Mitrovica Kukaj/Kukaj Prishtinë/Priština Blood donation MKSF, KSF Support with tents Prishtinë/Priština Study Initiative Kosova CAP 38 Summer School Knowledge Camp let s learn about our country 39 Demolition of an old school Nekovc/Nekovac 40 Cycling Federation, 12 th Edition 41 Construction of the house of Haziraj family Recycling of caps, support with a truck to transport wheelchairs Support with an ambulance, a medical team and lunch Demolition of an old school Nekovc/Nekovac Support with an ambulance and a medical team Support with personnel and equipment Prishtinë/Priština Rugovë/Rugova Nekovc/Nekovac, Drenas/Glogovac Kosovë/Kosovo Dragolec/Dragoljevac Road repair and digging of a trench for wastewater Support with personnel and equipment Leskoc/Leskovac, Klinë/Klina Municipality First Youth Festival of Kosovo Municipalities Support with tents and camp beds Vushtrri/Vučitrn List of Humanitarian Projects for National Communities No. Project Description of Works Location Date 1 Support with lectures for Youth Scouts League of Kosovo G9 LFC lectured about KSF structure, mission, tasks and activities Prizren/Prizren Visit to the barracks

12 2 Medical Assistance MEDCOY medical team, Chief G9 and Italian KFOR have provided medical assistance to Istog/Istok municipality once a week 3 Support to Lipjan/ Lipljan Municipality Cleaning of the river and the ditch Dragolevac/Dragolec, Zallç/Žalč and Serbobran/Srbobran ongoing Lipjan/Lipljan Humanitarian project in Zallç/Žalč 5 Project in Klinë/ Klina Municipality Earth removal Support to Italian KFOR to lay gravel on the road in Zallç/Žalč Gravel and earth transportation to At Gjergj Fishta school Zallç/Žalč Jagodë/Jagoda, Klinë/ Klina municipality Gravel leveling o in At Gjergj Fishta school Project Education on the risks of using pyrotechnics Lectures by CPR members on the risks of using pyrotechnics 7 Mine awareness Lectures by CPR members on mine risks 8 Humanitarian project in Zallç/Žalč, Istog/ Istok Transportation and laying of gravel Schools, all communities Elementary schools, including schools for ethnic communities Zallç/Žalč, Istog/ Istok List of Projects in Cooperation with the Government and EULEX No. Project Description of Works Location Date 1 Project Excavation Setting up a perimeter around the excavation area and excavation of the soil Zhilivodë/Žilivoda Project Pejë/ Peć 3 Project Livoç/ Livoč Search for mortal remains in a well by KSF CPR divers, in cooperation with EULEX Search for mortal remains in Livoç/Livoč Lake, KSF in cooperation with EULEX Pejë/Peć Livoç/Livoč

13 24 Prepared by the Ministry of Kosovo Security Force, 2012