The regional delegation of Caritas in Umbria is now visiting Kosovo where it set up a holding camp for refugees at Radulac, in the parish of Zlokucane (district of Klina), in September 1999. Today the camp provides a home to 22 children, “victims” of the ethnic conflict, assists various families living in poverty, and has also established a farm cooperative to help relieve chronic unemployment. It is no accident that the main objective of the journey of the delegation, headed by Monsignor Riccardo Fontana, bishop delegate of the Umbrian Bishops’ Conference for the service of charity, is to review all that has so far been done in the area as the first step towards launching new projects. Before he set out for Kosovo, Msgr. Fontana said he was “convinced that our commitment at the side of our Kosovar friends, especially those who have nothing, will be reconfirmed”. Giocondo Leopardi, representative of Umbrian Caritas, added: “Since we are present in these areas, we must never forget that our commitment is not planned for a single day but must be lasting”.
