"HEALTH CATASTROPHE" THREATENING KOSOVO VILLAGES WITHOUT ELECTRICITY - AGENCY
BBC Monitoring International Reports - January 21, 2005

Text of report in English by Belgrade-based Radio B92 text web site on 20 January

Batuse/Belgrade, 20 January: A health catastrophe is threatening the Kosovo village of Batuse where more than 80 Serbian households are still without power after more than a month. Belgrade's Kosovo Coordination Centre has delivered two 35 kW generators to the town. However, since they generate only enough power to provide lighting, and their use would involve the installation of low-tension supply circuits throughout the town, the local residents have decided that they are better off without them.

At a meeting this morning, residents called on the Serbia-Montenegro Army to provide a 5 kW generator for each house in the village. Electrical engineer Ljubisa Bandic said that the basic power requirements could be met by a single generator of at least 500 kW.

Because the village's water supply depends on an electrical pumping system, residents are facing a catastrophic health situation. Four locals were admitted to the hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica with hepatitis in the past two days and villagers fear an epidemic if the situation is not resolved.

An urgent appeal has been sent to the Serbian Health Ministry for a medical team to be sent to the town because the local clinic has been closed because of the lack of power.

Serb households are also without power in parts of Lipljan and the village of Priluzje in the Vucitrn municipality.

Source: Radio B92 text web site, Belgrade, in English 2038 gmt 20 Jan 05

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