Today (April 16) marks the 27th anniversary of the exodus of Kosovo Albanians, when during the 1998-1999 war, around one million Kosovo Albanians were forced to leave their homes due to the violence of Serbian paramilitary forces.
They found refuge mainly in Albania, Macedonia and in some cases in Montenegro.
The exodus reached its peak after the beginning of the NATO bombing in March 1999, when thousands of Albanians crossed the border towards Kukës. On March 27, 1999, the first 187 refugees arrived in Kukës, most of whom were children and women, who had been raped and were in a serious physical and mental condition. They took shelter in the “Hasan Prishtina” Palace of Culture. On the same day, Kukes hosted 12,721 refugees, while food aid was immediate.
The number of refugees quickly increased, and by March 28, Kukësi hosted more than 13,000 Kosovars. Quick help came from local authorities, who opened schools, nurseries and warehouses to house the refugees. Most of the refugees were accommodated in Kuksian families, where each host family hosted an average of 14 Kosovars.
Then, on April 16, Kukësi marked Exodus Day, a day of thanksgiving for the Kukësi people who welcomed the refugees. The obelisk in Kukës is a symbol of this day, built to honor the hospitality and sacrifice of those who opened their doors to shelter their Kosovar brothers.
Also, in the “Bllaca ’99” Memorial Center in Han te Elezit, stands the “Wall of Memory” monument, which symbolizes the sacrifice of the Albanian mother and the memory of those who contributed to the freedom of Kosovo.
This is a painful reminder of the sacrifices of the Kosovo Albanians and the help they received during the most difficult period of their lives.
