Vitina
Encyclopedia
Vitina is a town and municipality
in the Gnjilane district of south-eastern Kosovo
.
include Pozhoran, Kabash, Binqa, Kllokot, Drobesh, Smirë, etc.
, it was the home of A Company, 2/505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division
, the first KFOR troops to begin stabilization efforts in the municipality. After the initial unit left, Vitina was the site of a subsequent international scandal when a soldier from the U.S. Army different follow on unit raped and killed a local girl. The subsequent investigation uncovered serious training and leadership deficiencies in the 3/504 Parachute Infantry Regiment, and catalyzed a tremendous change in the training of units deploying for peacekeeping
operations.
Most private businesses are owned and operated by Kosovo Albanians, as are a majority of the public services. Both private businesses and public services are small in terms of number of employees.
During the conflict, approximately 5% of Kosovo Albanian houses were burnt (255 houses). After the conflict, burning of Kosovo Serb houses took place, and around 230 houses were burnt which account for approximately 20% of all Kosovo Serb houses.
Water supply is available to 70% of the Vitina town. A number of villages have their own water systems, but as the public services company is not responsible for maintenance of these systems, the supply of water is unreliable. Overall, less than 20% of the population in the municipality has a water supply system. Approximately 10% of the population has access to a sewage system.
Municipalities of Kosovo
A Municipality is the basic administrative division in Kosovo.-List of Municipalities:The first name is Serbian and the second one is Albanian:* Dečani / Deçan* Dragaš / Dragash* Đakovica / Gjakovë* Glogovac / Gllogovc * Gnjilane / Gjilan...
in the Gnjilane district of south-eastern Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
.
Geography
Towns in the Vitina municipalityMunicipalities of Kosovo
A Municipality is the basic administrative division in Kosovo.-List of Municipalities:The first name is Serbian and the second one is Albanian:* Dečani / Deçan* Dragaš / Dragash* Đakovica / Gjakovë* Glogovac / Gllogovc * Gnjilane / Gjilan...
include Pozhoran, Kabash, Binqa, Kllokot, Drobesh, Smirë, etc.
History
Following the 1999 Kosovo WarKosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
, it was the home of A Company, 2/505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division
U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
The 82nd Airborne Division is an active airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute landing operations. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is the primary fighting arm of the XVIII Airborne Corps....
, the first KFOR troops to begin stabilization efforts in the municipality. After the initial unit left, Vitina was the site of a subsequent international scandal when a soldier from the U.S. Army different follow on unit raped and killed a local girl. The subsequent investigation uncovered serious training and leadership deficiencies in the 3/504 Parachute Infantry Regiment, and catalyzed a tremendous change in the training of units deploying for peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operations.
Economy
The municipality of Vitina is economically depressed. However, it should also be noted that this area is rural and agrarian and hence the current unemployment rates might not accurately reflect true employment levels.Most private businesses are owned and operated by Kosovo Albanians, as are a majority of the public services. Both private businesses and public services are small in terms of number of employees.
Infrastructure
The roads in the municipality range from good to poor. The main roads leading into most villages are paved and narrow. Secondary roads are nearly all dirt roads.During the conflict, approximately 5% of Kosovo Albanian houses were burnt (255 houses). After the conflict, burning of Kosovo Serb houses took place, and around 230 houses were burnt which account for approximately 20% of all Kosovo Serb houses.
Water supply is available to 70% of the Vitina town. A number of villages have their own water systems, but as the public services company is not responsible for maintenance of these systems, the supply of water is unreliable. Overall, less than 20% of the population in the municipality has a water supply system. Approximately 10% of the population has access to a sewage system.
Demographics
| Ethnic Composition, Including IDPs | |||||||||||||
| Year/Population | Albanian | % | Serb | % | Croats Janjevci Janjevci are Croatian inhabitants of the Kosovo town of Janjevo and surrounding villages, located near Pristina as well as villages centered on Letnica near Vitina .... |
% | Roma | % | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 20,496 | 60.92 | 10,442 | 31.04 | 2,077 | 6.17 | 21 | 33,642 | |||||
| 1971 | 26,927 | 67.69 | 9,649 | 24.26 | 2,613 | 6.57 | 126 | 0.32 | 39,780 | ||||
| 1981 | 35,105 | 73.38 | 8,369 | 17.49 | 3,722 | 7.78 | 229 | 0.49 | 47,839 | ||||
| 1991 | 45,078 | 78.68 | 7,002 | 12.22 | 4,331 | 7.56 | 373 | 0.65 | 57,290 | ||||
| Aug 2003 | 56,400 | 94.0 | 3,300 | 5.5 | 60 | 0.1 | 20 | 59,810 | |||||
| Ref: Yugoslav Population Censuses for data through 1991, OSCE estimates for 2003 | |||||||||||||