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DATE=5/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249269
TITLE=CONGO REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  DESPITE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE, THE UNITED
NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, SAYS IT IS HELPING THOUSANDS 
OF REFUGEES RETURN HOME FROM NEIGHBORING CONGO-KINSHASA.  LISA 
SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THIS PROGRAM OF RETURN IS QUITE 
DIFFERENT FROM THE USUAL UNITED NATIONS REPATRIATION PROGRAMS.
TEXT:   THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE SITUATION IN 
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE REMAINS FAR FROM STABLE WITH FIGHTING BETWEEN 
THE BRAZZAVILLE GOVERNMENT AND SUPPORTERS OF THE EX-PRESIDENT 
REPORTED ON TUESDAY (YESTERDAY).  THE AGENCY SAYS PEOPLE CONTINUE
TO CROSS OVER TO CONGO-KINSHASA TO ESCAPE THE VIOLENCE.  
NEVERTHELESS, U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN, PAUL STROMBERG, SAYS MANY OF 
THE REFUGEES WANT TO GO BACK HOME.
                       ///STROMBERG ACT///
         THIS REPATRIATION PROGRAM WAS BEGUN AT THE REQUEST OF 
         THE REFUGEES THEMSELVES AND OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. IN 
         THE BEGINNING OF APRIL, U-N-H-C-R SAID IT WOULD HELP 
         WITH TRANSPORT ANY REFUGEES WHO VOLUNTARILY CAME BACK, 
         WANTED TO GO BACK TO BRAZZAVILLE.
                          ///END ACT///
MR. STROMBERG SAYS THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN CONGO-KINSHASA FOR 
SEVERAL MONTHS.  AND MANY OF THEM HAVE LEARNED THAT THE AREAS 
FROM WHICH THEY FLED ARE NOW SAFE.  MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND 
REFUGEES FROM CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE FLED TO AN AREA SOUTHWEST OF 
KINSHASA LAST NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. 
MR. STROMBERG SAYS MORE THAN 48-HUNDRED REFUGEES HAVE RETURNED 
HOME SINCE APRIL, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE SITUATION ELSEWHERE 
IN THE COUNTRY IS RISKY.  //OPT//  HE SAYS THE U-N AGENCY HAS 
VERY CLEARLY POINTED OUT THE DANGERS THEY MIGHT FACE IF THEY 
RETURN HOME.
                   ///SECOND STROMBERG ACT///
         ... SAYING THAT WE CANNOT PROMOTE REPATRIATION, WE 
         CANNOT ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO HOME BECAUSE MANY PARTS OF 
         THE COUNTRY ARE STILL UNSTABLE.  BUT, WE CAN HELP YOU 
         WITH TRANSPORT AND THIS, IN FACT, STOPS THEM FROM GOING 
         THROUGH A VERY DANGEROUS AREA IN CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE AND 
         RETURNS THEM BY RAIL AND THEN FROM BOAT FROM KINSHASA TO
         BRAZZAVILLE TO AREAS THAT ARE SAFER.
                    ///END ACT/// //END OPT//
MR. STROMBERG SAYS HIS AGENCY WILL ORGANIZE A MORE TYPICAL 
REPATRIATION OPERATION ONCE IT DECIDES THE SITUATION IN CONGO- 
BRAZZAVILLE HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL.  WHEN THAT HAPPENS, HE SAYS 
THE AGENCY WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST THE REFUGEES UPON THEIR RETURN 
HOME.  HE SAYS THE AGENCY WILL PROVIDE THE RETURNING REFUGEES 
WITH FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES THEY WILL NEED TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES
AND HELP THEM RESTART THEIR LIVES. (SIGNED) 
NEB/LS/PCF 
12-May-99 10:04 AM EDT (1404 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.