Aid Group Works to Help Kosovo Refugees

The exodus from Kosovo has perhaps one blessing: It has given Mission Without Borders precious extra days to prepare for the thousands of ethnic Albanians trailing to the port city of Durres.

Mission Without Borders has been in the south Albanian city since 1992, said Leonard Robinson, national manager of the nonprofit, worldwide aid organization.

From his Camarillo office Friday, Robinson worked to organize the latest shipment of goods to the region.

Durres officials sent a letter detailing what the city needs: mattresses, tents, blankets, baby food, cooking and eating utensils, water purification tablets and children’s clothes. Lois Bass, Mission Without Borders president, will deliver the first shipment Sunday via a barge from Italy, through the Adriatic Sea and into Durres.

The number of refugees is estimated to be more than 15,000, Robinson said, and more are on their way. Fortunately, “it’s giving us time,” he said.

Seven workers staff an office in Durres. They have already distributed hundreds of blankets, shoes and a thousand pots of baby food to the refugees. They will deliver additional supplies to the surrounding villages.

The organization will soon increase its Ventura County efforts, as construction begins next week on a 36,000-square-foot center at 5284 Adolfo Road. Partnerships have already formed with several nonprofit groups that will have office space at the new building.