Four Presbyterians recently visited the Kirklareli Province refugee center three hours from Istanbul. The refugee camp there is full of Kosovar refugees.

At first they were only going to allow one of them and their translator inside the camp, but after a thorough inspection of the vehicle, they were allowed to enter for a little over two hours.

There are still around 200 Bosnians there who have been there seven years. But the rest have arrived from Kosovo since April 6. There are over 4,000 at that location.

All supplies at that location are distributed by a group called the Red Crescent. The camp is getting ready for at least 20,000 more expected refugees

They had gotten hold of one used computer and were attempting to collect information on the families and individuals in the camp and get the list out so that families can be reunited. They are desperately in need of software. It would be an opportunity for computer companies to donate software for this process.

They had four babies born in the camp during the past month and four persons have died during the same period.

One of the refugees told the visitors that all in the camp were Muslim. They were attempting to hold school in the camp for the children.

A truck arrived while the Presbyterians were there from the American-related international elementary and junior high schools in Istanbul. It had tables and chairs, baby food, medications and blankets.

The group said that as they left the camp and went out the gates, they saw relatives of camp residents tearfully waiting for the bus to take them home after having visited their relatives. It was called "an emotional ending to our visit and we hope God will work his peace and grace into this distraught situation."


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