INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS A LEAD AGENCY IN PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR KOSOVAR REFUGEES

Los Angeles--International Medical Corps (IMC), a Los Angeles based 
humanitarian relief organization, is the lead international relief agency in 
Albania and Macedonia providing medical services to the refugee 
population. IMC has been treating Kosovar refugees that are streaming 
across the borders from Kosovo into Albania and Macedonia. There are 
ten teams in the field in Albania and three in Macedonia.

"IMC has been operating in Kosovo since 1998," said Nancy Aossey, 
IMC's president and CEO. "Our operations staff saw a clear need in the 
region prior to the onset of the current situation."

IMC's Mobile Clinic program, operational in Kosovo for the last year, 
responded to a need in Albania, and also moved into Macedonia several 
months ago. Consequently, IMC was prepared at the time of the NATO 
airstrikes and thus able to treat the refugees as they entered last week.

"Because of IMC's ongoing presence in the region, we were able to 
immediately respond, "Aossey states. "Fortunately, our relief workers 
are very close to the situation there and were not surprised by the 
enormity of the crisis and had a plan in place," she said. "The situation is 
quite grave. Food stocks are running low in Albania and their system is 
seriously taxed. In Macedonia, the border has been shut and refugees are 
being moved into Albania. The health problems are typical of what is 
found in large refugee populations. We have confirmation of six fatalities 
due to dehydration along the border and hundreds of sick, tired and 
dehydrated refugees, mainly women, children and the elderly. As you 
know, the men have been separated from their families."

IMC is currently accepting donations for its Mobile Clinic Programs in 
Albania and Macedonia through their donor hotline at 800/481-4462. Or 
visit IMC's website at imc@imc-la.org. International Medical Corps is a 
501(3) nonprofit organization.