Macedonian protesters' blockade
hinders food shipments, R&R
By David Josar, Kosovo
bureau
David Josar / Stars and Stripes
A warehouse at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, stores enough Meals, Ready to Eat to last several
weeks if no more food is delivered. A blockade in Macedonia has forced the U.S. military
to use CH-47 Chinook helicopters to bring in supplies. As a result some items, such as
food supplies, are running low. |
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — Where’s the beef or the ice cream
or the extra servings of pizza?
A blockade the past 10 days by Macedonian protesters has closed the
main supply route for U.S. soldiers into Kosovo, causing some shortages of nonessential
supplies.
Lt. Col. Darrell Williams, in charge of supply operations for Task
Force Falcon, said CH-47 Chinook helicopters have substituted for the trucks. Spare parts
for equipment and medical supplies are in good shape, he said.
The most visible effect of the blockade has been at the dining
facilities at Camp Bondsteel, Camp Monteith and at the U.S. camp in Vitina, Kosovo.
Last week, signs announced reduced rations. Scoopable ice cream is
gone, although prepackaged items, like Eskimo Pies, are available. The salad bar has
become less plentiful.
The pizza bar and potato bar vanished. Portions have become smaller
and there are fewer choices.
“I know I have to go back, like, three times now to get a good
meal,” said Sgt. Joseph Chelith, a mechanic at Camp Bondsteel. “The food’s
still good — there just isn’t as much.”
As of Sunday, the much coveted “rest and relaxation” passes
to Bulgaria, reached by bus via the now-closed border crossing at Blace, were indefinitely
canceled.
The cancellation of the passes, coupled with the limited food
choices, have affected morale, said Spec. Joshua T. Gautney, who helps military personnel
at Camp Bondsteel deal with combat stress.
“It gives you one less outlet to let off a little steam,”
he said.
Williams said mail delivery remains unaffected. And letters,
postcards and packages remain a priority and arrive daily on the helicopters. The
blockade, made of dirt and rocks, was built by a small number of Macedonians upset that
NATO has not gotten rid of the ethnic Albanian rebels who have fought government troops
since February.
They have said they will not dismantle the barricade until NATO meets
their demands, which include reparations from the alliance to Macedonians who lost their
homes during the fighting.
The protesters are camped about six miles south of the
Macedonia-Kosovo border outside Skopje, Macedonia’s capital.
On Monday, NATO began Operation Essential Harvest and will begin
collecting arms voluntarily turned in by the rebels. It is unclear what affect that may
have on the blockade.
If the blockade isn’t lifted soon, the situation will worsen.
Williams said one option officials have considered is substitute
Meals, Ready to Eat for lunch and only have hot meals for breakfast and dinner.
Task Force Falcon has an MRE supply that would last several weeks if
there were no food available at all, said Chief Warrant Officer Richard Holland, who is in
charge of the warehouses at Camp Bondsteel.
“Yes, we have some concerns but the quality is still
there,” Williams said on Monday.
A number of contingency plans are already going into effect. U.S.
Army Europe and the U.S. European Command have approved two additional Chinook helicopters
and a C-130 cargo plane to bring supplies over the mountains from Macedonia into Kosovo,
Williams said.
Negotiations are ongoing to find a place for the C-130 to land in
Kosovo, he said.
In addition, in the next few days the U.S. military hopes to get
approval to use a rail line to bring in supplies.
“There are all kinds of possibilities on the plate,” he
said.
Williams said his soldiers prepared for these scenarios before
deploying to Kosovo.
Before the blockade, between five and 15, 20- and 40-foot supply
trucks came across the border. Now, Williams said, the Chinooks make six round-trips each
day. A Chinook can carry one 20-foot truckload at a time.
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