100 000 KOSOVO ALBANIAN REFUGEES FACE HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE

( Editorial: --> 6957 ) PRISTINA, Aug 30 (Hina) - The humanitarian situation in Kosovo is deteriorating by hour, especially in Malishevo, Suva Reka and Orahovac, where there is an estimated 100,000 refugees, most of whom are living in the open. A delegation consisting of Kosovo Democratic Alliance members and other Albanian representatives, including the Kosovo committee for the protection of human rights and freedoms, today held talks with the head of the US monitoring mission in Kosovo, Shawn Bymes. The Albanian representatives informed Bymes about the humanitarian catastrophe the displaced Albanians are facing and asked him to do all he can to stop Serbian attacks and help the refugees. The humanitarian catastrophe can be avoided only if tents, blankets, food and medicines are provided immediately, they said. Serbian forces have continued occasional attacks on the area of Gornja Drenica, Lipljan municipality, the Kosovo Information Centre reported. There has been no information on possible victims or destruction. (hina) rml 301820 MET aug 98