[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE OF OTHERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 1999

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, April 18, David McCall, Penny 
McCall and Yvette Pierpaoli died in a car accident while on their way 
to assist the refugees in Northern Albania. David and Penny McCall were 
on assignment for Refugees International. Ms. Pierpaoli was their 
Albanian driver. I insert into the Record a press release from Refugees 
International detailing their mission.
  Having traveled the same road myself just weeks ago, I know how 
dangerous it can be. The road--the only route between Tirana and 
Kukes--is crowded and crumbling.
  David, Penny and Yvette gave their lives to serve others and bring 
some desperately needed relief to the displaced Kosovar Albanians. 
Their death should serve as a stark reminder of the daily risks faced 
by aid workers and the heroic efforts of all those risking their lives 
to help the world's needy.
  My sympathy goes out to the families of the McCalls and Ms. 
Pierpaoli.

                 Refugees International--April 19, 1999

       It is with deep pain that we must confirm the deaths of 
     David B. McCall, his wife Penny McCall and Yvette Pierpaoli 
     in a car accident Sunday on the road heading towards Kukes, 
     Albania. Their Albanian driver was also killed. David and 
     Penny were Board Members of Refugees International, and 
     Yvette was RI's European Representative. The three were in 
     Albania on a humanitarian assessment mission. They were 
     heading from Tirana, the capital, to Kukes, the primary 
     reception point for Kosovar refugees, when their car 
     apparently slid off the mountain road in bad weather.
       David, Penny, and Yvette gave their lives for refugees they 
     never met, but for whom they cared deeply. Refugees 
     International is an advocacy organization which seeks to 
     identify failures or gaps in the refugee protection and 
     assistance system and then presses for corrective action. 
     David, Penny and Yvette had made numerous such missions in 
     the past, including a humanitarian assessment mission to 
     Albania last June. This time, a part of their mission was to 
     explore the possibility of providing region-wide help through 
     radio broadcasts to refugees seeking to locate missing family 
     members. The widespread separation of families is a problem 
     with profound human consequences, and David, Penny, and 
     Yvette wanted it solved as quickly as possible. It was not 
     the first time these three took matters into their own hands 
     for refugees around the world. David, Penny, and Yvette 
     personally brought water pumps, sought to improve the system 
     for clearing land mines and provided basic assistance for 
     refugees in Thailand, Cambodia, and numerous countries in 
     Africa. Their humanity was deep, abiding and selfless, and 
     inspired us all. We will miss them terribly.

     

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