SHIP CARRYING RELIEF AID LEAVES ZADAR FOR ALBANIA

ZADAR, April 29 (Hina) - A ship carrying about 600 tonnes of relief aid for Kosovo refugees left the Croatian seaport of Zadar for Albania at about 01.00 pm Thursday. Prior to the departure, the President of Croatian Caritas, Archbishop of Zadar, Ivan Prendja, held a news conference. The ship 'Vjeko' is transporting food, hygienic items, baby food and tents. The value of the shipment is about 500,000 US dollars, Archbishop Prendja said. Branches of Caritas in all Croatian dioceses and archdioceses, a great number of parishes, some companies and the Red Cross have taken part in collecting the aid. The international assistance from Scotland, Germany, England and Italy has been sent to Zadar Caritas to ship it further for Albanian refugees. Prendja thanked everybody who participated in the humanitarian action, and stressed that further assistance would be also necessary as the end of the human plight in Kosovo cannot be seen. He said tents would be especially necessary. Since Zadar was proclaimed the centre of the Caritas action for gathering aid for Kosovo refugees, 800 tonnes of food, clothes and other goods has been collected and funds valued a half million kuna has been raised. (hina) ms