Infrastructure Reconstruction and Repair

Location:	Skenderaj
Number of Beneficiaries:	Around 5,640 people
Start Year:	2003
Status:	Ongoing

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Project Overview

The Skenderaj municipality of north Kosova was the target of much of the fighting that took place at the end of the last decade.

Almost half of the 9000 houses in the region were completely destroyed, and most of the remainder suffered partial damage. In addition, the region suffered extensive damage to its infrastructure.

This programme has focused on the construction of a health clinic in one village and the provision water supply to a further two villages.

Project Background

The access to safe drinking water throughout Skenderaj is extremely limited. The situation in the villages of Mikushnice and Likovc is particularly desperate. These villages have larger populations and were therefore selected for projects to supply clean water.

At present, the inhabitants extract water from small private wells located in the villages. However, these wells were exhausted during summer and villagers are forced to walk some 1 to 2 kilometres to fetch water.

Not surprisingly, hygiene and health both suffer. However, both villages, according to hydrologists, do have nearby water springs to provide all inhabitants with a year round supply of clean water.

The Municipality of Skenderaj has prepared a Health Master Plan with the aim of prioritizing the health needs of its inhabitants. One of the stated priorities is the construction of a new ambulanta or health clinic in the village of Izbica.

The proposed health clinic would provide basic health services for the population of Izbica village itself as well as at least three surrounding villages, possibly more. At present, villagers are faced with the distant journey to the town of Skenderaj for medical attention. The health clinic will employ one full-time nurse and doctor.

Project Objectives

To provide the inhabitants of two villages, Mikushnica and Likovc, with fresh drinking water through the construction of a new potable water supply system;
To constructed a health clinic in the village of Izbica. This will provide basic health services for the inhabitants of a total of five villages.

Approximately 900 villagers in Mikushnice and 750 in Likovc will benefit from the water supply project.

The health clinic will benefit the villagers from Izbica and three other neighbouring villages (Trnova, Licina and Vojnike) totaling some 3850 persons from some 600 households.

It is estimated that there will be approximately 5640 beneficiariesin total.

Project Activites

Securing water source through the construction of a reservoir and pump house;
Installing water pipes from the reservoir to each of the households in both villages;
Separately a new 120 square metre building will be constructed to serve as a health clinic.

How Islamic Relief Helps

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015.

The goals:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/