On the steps of a hotel in Skenderberg Square, Tirana, a band of ragged little boys swoop as foreign visitors arrive. They gather around and try to sell packets of cigarettes in US dollars for a price which is more than an average Albanian daily wage.
As in many countries where humanitarian crises occur, the unprecedented influx of foreign aid workers and journalists means big business for a minority of people. But for most Albanians it has been a massive burden. The UNHCR has estimated that between 70 and 80 per cent of the roughly 306,000 refugees - another 8,000 arrived this week from Montenegro - have been housed in Albanian homes.
So far the families have not received any assistance from the government or the World Food Programme, although they do receive assistance in some areas from UNHCR and individual aid organisations. According to Ms Heather Hill, information officer with the World Food Programme, the Albanian government is doing "its best to carve order out of chaos. But it's almost indescribable what has happened here.
What's worst is the strain on the Albanian population, which is already the poorest in Europe."
The WFP has also yet to decide what it will do for host families. Like the government, its priority has been the influx of refugees into Albania and their movement throughout the country. Although the international community pledged 80 per cent of the $24 million sought initially, the WFP's executive director, Ms Catherine Bertini, who arrived in Tirana on Tuesday, expanded the appeal to $71 million.
The deputy editor of the weekly Pasqyra (Mirror), Mr Xhevedet Shehu, said that while usually critical of the government, "I believe it's doing its best in this terrible situation". He said the 29-yearold Prime Minister, Mr Pandeli Majko, was a democrat and wanted to show the world what Albania was capable of. "With this war, Albania and its people are finally being seen as part of the western family. There isn't any doubt that NATO will win this war and that Albanians will hold out the banner of victory, so now they are also thinking of what will happen after the war."
Shortly after the first signs of the huge displacement of Kosovans emerged the Albanian government, with the assistance of the OSCE, set up an emergency commission.
Within the management structure, the OSCE has taken up important advisory roles and the UN bodies and NATO manage their special areas of competence. For example, food distribution is headed by the World Food Programme; the shelter is managed by UNHCR; health is managed by the WHO and transport by the Albanian government in close co-operation with NATO.
After some hurdles, Albanian government staff now occupy a more prominent role throughout the emergency management commission. The OSCE representative and information officer for the emergency management group, Mr Tim Bittiger, said that despite the need for expertise from outside, the government was "showing far more leadership in the emergency commission and the OSCE has decided to withdraw from some of its roles within it". The government has also been working effectively in co-ordinating crisis management throughout the country with the Democratic Party, led by Dr Sali Berisha, which dominates local government. Mr Bittiger commented: "What has been remarkable has been the cohesion of the central and local government, which are represented by the different parties."
Significantly, on Monday Mr Majko met the director of the World Bank, Mr Franco Tascantandi, who pledged $300 million in budgetary support. This falls short of the estimated $800 million needed.
Nevertheless, the Albanian Minister for Information, Mr Musa Ulquini, asserted that "the spirit of the Albanian people is truly represented by our compatriot, Mother Teresa, who is a symbol of the compassion of the Albanian people. Although it will be very hard for us to deal with this crisis, we are determined that we will and that it will be a step forward for us into the European family."