PRESS REVIEW FROM SLOVENIA

Ljubljana, 16 June - DNEVNIK: THANK YOU FOR THE MILK - The problem of refugees is similar all over the world, writes Marjana Vončina. While the western media praised the help sent by some countries, this help had a big defect: cans which were already past their expiry date, old and unsuitable medicines, large quantities of powdered milk in spite of the fact that there was no water. And what is the state of things in our country? In the last few days 5 tons of powdered milk arrived in Slovenia. But Slovenia itself is drowning in its own stocks of milk and dairies do not know how to process it. We received a large shipment of medicines but they proved to be old, unsuitable and of no use. We also received 80 m3 of sanitary material although Tosama Domžale is only operating at 25% of its capacity and 300 of its employees are on forced leave. Having crossed the Iraqi high plains, Kurds were faced with more problems. In Iran they died of illness, hunger, injuries and lack of medical help. Bosnian refugees are better off here. They have come to a country where you can get everything for money. Only Slovenia has little money. Discussions with the representative of the UN High Commission for Refugees on the possibility of changing humanitarian help into monetary did not succeed. Vončina ends her article by stating that it is difficult to predict what the refugee problems will be like in future, but in spite of this, international help should be adjusted to these problems.