BAD WEATHER ENDANGERS LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVO REFUGEES

( Editorial: --> 6841 ) PRISTINA, Aug 29 (Hina) - Cold weather and rain have drastically worsened the conditions which dozens of thousands of Albanian refugees are coping with in Kosovo forests and hills where they have taken refuge from Serbian attacks. According to Kosovo Albanian sources, particularly dramatic is the condition of almost 100,000 refugees, mainly women and children who are living in open air on hills between the municipalities of Malishevo and Suva Reka. This area has been under heavy rain for several days. The refugees are without either food or medication. Through Albanian political parties, the refugees on Saturday called on the international community to send urgent aid. Albanian and Serbian sources in Pristina reported at least 23 killed and five dead as a result of insufficient medical assistance, as well as several Albanians wounded in the last 24 hours. At least ten Albanians were killed during a Serbian attack on refugees settled in Senika, a village near Malishevo, the Kosovo Information Centre (KIC) reported, adding three Albanians were killed and 15, including four children, were wounded in the village of Banje. The KIC also reported that five Albanians were killed in Slapuzhane, a village near Suva Reka, while two were killed and five died due to lack of medical assistance in Pagarusha, another village near Malishevo. According to the Pristina-based Media Centre, an information unit close to the Yugoslav government, Serbian police killed seven members of the Kosovo Liberation Army who attacked them in Donja Sushica, a village in Klina Municipality. (hina) ha 292014 MET aug 98