Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues Sebastijan Serifovic of the Roma and Ashkali Documentation Centre in Kosovo speaks about the situation of Roma refugees and IDPs at a meeting of Roma representatives from SARAH CROZIER South-Eastern Europe in June. V. Ensuring that the fundamental rights of Roma and Sinti are respected in crisis and post-crisis situations Roma and Sinti communities in crisis and post-crisis situations often face discrimination while they are IDPs, asylum-seekers, or refugees, which can translate into unacceptable living conditions, inadequate access to health and education facilities, and a lack of representation when decisions are made that affect their right to safe and sustainable return to their country of origin or to integration in the countries they are currently living in. The ODIHR is engaged in a number of projects that seek to involve Roma and Sinti representatives and communities in relations with local authorities in crisis and post-crisis situations. Special emphasis has been placed on ensuring that proper consultation takes place in decision-making matters that affect their lives. Project activities focus on Kosovo and the particular set of issues faced by IDPs and refugees. In particular, the ODIHR has supported Roma and Sinti NGOs and community representatives involved in negotiations of long-term arrangements to solve the post-crisis situations of the 80 Annual Report  multi-ethnic communities in Kosovo with large Roma and Sinti populations by conducting a series of seminars, workshops, and training sessions, including regarding issues of civil registration and lobbying elected officials. Roma in Kosovo More than 150,000 Roma were caught in the 1998-1999 conflict, when many were targeted by ethnic Albanian forces who considered them Serb collaborators, while the Serbian army routed Roma from Kosovo Albanian villages. More than 120,000 fled Kosovo and are currently IDPs in Serbia or are living in the European Union. Prior to the war, one of the most prosperous Roma communities in the Balkans was the Mitrovica Mahalla,12 with some 8,000 inhabitants. Now, the thousand or so people who remain are living in IDP camps in Northern Mitrovica that are contaminated with lead. 12 A Mahalla is an old settlement inhabited by Roma, usually at the periphery of a municipality. It is often situated on non-residential land that is not included in urban plans, which makes it an informal settlement, lacking basic infrastructure or connections with nearby communities. Houses in a Mahalla are built, partially or completely, without proper authorization.