Suncockret camps - 6 January 1993 Suncockret organises workcamps in the former Yugoslavia to help refugees. Zagreb The situation in Zagreb is different than in the other camps we work in. Our volunteers work in few several centres, organising and taking part in activities in smaller camps where our assistance and presence is also required. They do not sleep in the camps but stay in one rented house. Food is provided by Suncockret, and lunch is provided in the camps. Location Spansko (3 volunteers) In Spansko shelter there are 780 refugees mostly from Vulkovar. Refugees are now in building corporation "Industrogradnja" barracks. The breakdown of refugees is as follows: children to 18 years - 210, adults - 550, elderly and ill people - 200. Most of the children are attending school. All children at primary school level continued their education and likewise with high school adolescents. Also, there is a well equipped kindergarten. Our three volunteers will join English lessons, work with teenagers and help in the kindergarten. Location Vlaska (3 volunteers) This camp is placed in old military building. There is about 80 children in the camp, but more new refugees are expected. The main task for our volunteers will be helping in English (and German for German volunteers). Brac Brac is relatively big island in front of the Dalmatian coast on which about 2000 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) found shelter. Most of them are Muslims from Sarajevo or village around it, but there are also refugees from this area with Croatian and Serbian nationality. They are hosted in holiday houses and recreation centres from the former Yugoslavian Labour Union. The island is indeed a good holiday resort and the temperature is much higher than in the rest of Croatia. Since the refugees are scattered over the different villages on Brac the activities will take place in different places and volunteers will be hosted also in three different groups, each in one of the major refugee centres. Compared to other refugee camps around Croatia this can be qualified as a four star refugee camp. The group will work in Supetar (7 volunteers), Sutivan (7 volunteers) and Bol (7 volunteers). Veli Losinj (15 volunteers) Mali Losinj is one of the most beautiful islands in Adria with quite high temperatures during the winter. There is placed Special hospital for lungs diseases. We will work in small town Veli Losinj. There are 260 school children and 80 children younger than 6 years (about 15 babies) -refugees and displaced persons. They are placed on more than 5 location in the town. We will work with them and also with children who live in the island. Volunteers will live in youth hostel "Vladimir Nazor", together with displaced persons. Varazdin (15 volunteers) There are refugee in Varazdin, one called "Jalkovecke Zrtve", the other "15th May". Both are in military barracks, within easy walking distance of the town. "Jalkovecke Zrtve": There are 800 people in this camp, mainly women and children (300), mostly from Bosnia (Muslim and Croatian). They are housed in six army barrack buildings which are very spartan and have no heating. There are toilet facilities in each building, however again these are very basic and are communal. A classroom exists, and lessons are given to the 8-10 years old, but only if they wish to attend. For children under 6 years there is nothing. The camp has a lot of outdoor space, including playgrounds. "15 May": Camp is situated in old military barracks. There are 338 people in this camp, mainly women, children and young adults. Conditions are the same as in "Jalkovecke Zrtve". The refugees are waiting to go to another countries, so there is no school and no work is done with the children. There are 100 children between 6 and 14. Volunteers will live in the same conditions as the refugees. Problems with toilet facilities are possible. Gasinci (15 volunteers) This refugee camp is situated at a (separate) part of a military practising ground. It is about 35 kilometre north of the Sava, the river which forms the border as well as the front-line between Bosnia and Hertsegovina (BIH) and Croatia. Sometimes you can hear the explosions from the shelling on Slavonski Brod or Zupanja by forces from Northern BIH (also called Serbian Krajina). The region itself is however safe, no fights or bombing took place in the last 7 months. In the camp there are at this moment about 3000 refugees (it was planned in May for 1500), mostly Muslims (their religious feelings be called liberal) from all over BIH, as well as some Croatians who lived in the northern part of BIH. This number can change from time to time. Nevertheless relief organisations from abroad have started to build better living places, most of the refugees are still living in tents. Pula Pula is situated at the Adriatic coast, not far from the Slovenian and Italian border. The region is called Istra, and Pula is the capital. There are about 20,000 refugees (from Bosnia) and displaced persons (from Croatia). They are living in 8 places like old military barracks, some resorts and hotels. Because of the dislocation of the camps people with the car are very needed. Location Pula (10 volunteers) "Karlo Rojc" is camp placed im military barracks, in the centre of the town. Majority of the population are Bosnian refugees. There is no heating. Location Duga Uvala (10 volunteers) "Cvrcak" is a children hotel in the bay of Duga Uvala, 20 km away from Pula. That is the place where our volunteers are situated (in heated rooms). There are also another hotels in Duga Uvala where displaced persons are living in the apartments. There are long term displaced persons originating from the occupied Croatian territories. They are on average, passive, desperate, depressed and under the strong military influence. Savudrija (15 volunteers) This camp is a former holiday camp. It was funded about 20 years ago and all installations are rather old. Is is positioned on a beautiful site at the sea side just below Triest (Italy). At the moment there are about 1300 refugees in this camp, but this number is increasing (there will be 3000 refugees before the end of the winter). The refugees come from Bosnia, mainly from Sarajevo. They are Muslims, their religious feelings can be characterised as liberal. Nobody lives in tents any more. There are two lodges for volunteers with a heating element (but don't expect too much). There is space for 8 volunteers in each lodge. There is also warm water in the toilet, but mud is still there, and there is no light outside the lodges (on the way to the toilet...). Bring gummy boots and a torch ! The camp administration consists of only a few people that are responsible for all accomodation, sanitary, food /kitchen, safety problems. Suncockret is active in this camp since July, so the presence of the volunteers is widely accepted and enjoyed. Posusje (15 volunteers) This project will be the first of its kind in the region and will be risky, difficult and hence we need a special kind of volunteer. This project is also very important because of the following facts as detailed below. In Posusje there are about 6000 refugees living in very bad conditions. Some of them live in private accommodation and 300-400 line in a school "under extreme conditions", without heating, "no central kitchen (for 4 months they only eat bread)". (from Wam's Kat report) "A major problem is the total destruction of the whole infrastructure and authorities. In principle the humanitarian aid is in the hands of the local Mafia who more or less let most of it disappear." The main reason that we are starting to work there is that children need us and the type of supportwe providein these helpless situations. Even though the conditions and 'atmosphere' may prove to be difficult, our presence will at least halt, to some extent, the looting and racketeering of relief materials. We are witnesses in camps, and our information is used by The Red Cross, Government offices and many journalists. So, we have reasons to believe that we have to go there, now. Volunteers will live and work in extreme conditions. They will be housed in a place without heating (warm sleeping bag and very warm clothes are necessary). The food provided will be inadequate - bring vitamines with you. The hygienic situation is terrible (almost no toilet facilities). Prepare yourself for these conditions. For this camp we need only the best volunteers. There is a special procedure of selecting of volunteers for this camp - contact us for further information.