DATE=5/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249078
TITLE=ANGOLA/CRISIS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS IN ANGOLA SAY THAT WHAT THEY CHARACTERIZE
AS AN "EXTREME" HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS UNFOLDING IN THAT WAR-TORN
COUNTRY -- A CRISIS THAT THEY SAY IS FAR WORSE THAN THE ONE IN
KOSOVO. MORE FROM V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX
BELIDA.
TEXT: A SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION UNIT IN
ANGOLA SAYS RELIEF OFFICIALS NOW BELIEVE CLOSE TO ONE-MILLION
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE CIVIL WAR AND ARE IN DESPERATE
NEED OF ASSISTANCE.
SPOKESMAN FERNANDO COSTA FREIRE SAYS IN A STATEMENT MADE
AVAILABLE TO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE FIGURE IS FAR HIGHER
THAN THE NUMBERS FLEEING KOSOVO. HE SAYS ANGOLA'S DISPLACED
NEED FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER. BUT HE SAYS SUPPLIES ARE
DIMINISHING.
// OPT // ANOTHER FACTOR COMPLICATING RELIEF EFFORTS IN ANGOLA
IS THAT AID SUPPLIES MUST NOW BE TRANSPORTED BY AIR. MOST KEY
ROADS HAVE BEEN CUT BY THE FIGHTING AND AN INCREASED NUMBER OF
AMBUSHES HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE ON THE FEW ROADS STILL OPEN FOR
AID SHIPMENTS. // END OPT //
MEANWHILE, THE UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT SAYS IN A COMMUNIQUE IT NOW
CONTROLS ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S TERRITORY, WITH
GOVERNMENT FORCES CONFINED TO PROVINCIAL CAPITALS AND A FEW OTHER
TOWNS. THE REBELS SAY THEIR TERRITORY NOW INCLUDES THE ENTIRE
LENGTH OF ANGOLA'S BORDERS WITH BOTH ZAMBIA AND CONGO-KINSHASA.
ZAMBIA HAS BEEN ACCUSED BY ANGOLAN AUTHORITIES OF PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE TO UNITA -- A CLAIM ZAMBIAN OFFICIALS HAVE REPEATEDLY
DENIED. ZAMBIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS ANNOUNCED REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE TO MEET NEXT WEEK IN SWAZILAND TO
DISCUSS THE ALLEGATIONS.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO CONFIRMATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN
LUANDA THAT IT WILL PARTICIPATE -- AND THE INDEPENDENT "POST"
NEWSPAPER OF LUSAKA IS SUGGESTING THE TALKS MAY BE IN JEOPARDY.
IT SAYS (FRIDAY) A UNITA OFFICER CAPTURED BY ANGOLAN TROOPS
CLAIMS ZAMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KELI WALUBITA RECENTLY MET UNITA
LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI AT HIS STRONGHOLD IN ANGOLA'S CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS.
MR. WALUBITA IS QUOTED BY THE "POST" AS DENYING THE CLAIM,
CALLING IT "A BLOODY LIE."
A TOP UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL IS HEADING TO SOUTHERN AFRICA FOR
TALKS NEXT WEEK AIMED AT STEPPING-UP ENFORCEMENT OF U-N SANCTIONS
DESIGNED TO BLOCK UNITA'S ACCESS TO WEAPONS AND OTHER SUPPLIES.
(THE OFFICIAL) ROBERT FOWLER IS EXPECTED TO BE IN SOUTH AFRICA ON
MONDAY. HE WILL LATER TRAVEL TO ANGOLA.
// REST OPTIONAL //
DESPITE U-N SANCTIONS, ANALYSTS SAY THE REBELS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
OBTAIN SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS, INCLUDING TANKS AND OTHER ARMORED
VEHICLES. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT UNITA
HAS ACQUIRED COMBAT AIRCRAFT. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
07-May-99 7:47 AM EDT (1147 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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