DATE=9/7/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253544
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency (U-N-H-
C-R) estimates that more than 30-thousand people
have been displaced within the East Timorese
capital, Dili by militia attacks. The Agency
says it has no idea how many people have been
displaced from other parts of the territory, or
how many may have fled to the western part of the
island. We have more from Lisa Schlein in
Geneva.
TEXT: The U-N Refugee Agency says three of its
staff members are holed up in the United Nations
compound in Dili. Spokesman Kris Janowski says
the chaotic situation in East Timor is preventing
aid workers from moving around the capital and
other parts of the island.
/// JANOWSKI ACT ///
There are about 400 people crammed into the
compound. A lot of people, who have sought
refuge there. There are about one-thousand
people in a nearby school. We have
arranged for a couple of trucks to be
brought with police escort from a warehouse
to the compound to at least bring some food
to those people.
/// END ACT ///
The U-N-H-C-R reports two of its workers were
slightly injured when they were attacked by
opponents of independence in West Timor. The
agency is sending three officials to a small
border town in West Timor Wednesday to monitor
the situation. It says it will also send an
emergency team to West Timor. Another U-N
emergency team will travel to East Timor once its
safe for them to go.
Meanwhile, the United Nation's World Food Program
warns of an impending food crisis in East Timor.
The W-F-P's Christiane Berthiaume says food is
being pillaged and crops burned in the western
part of the province, creating food shortages.
Furthermore, she says thousands of East Timor's
homeless will have limited access to food
supplies and will be dependent on international
food aid.
/// BERTHIAUME ACT ///
We do estimate that probably as many as a
quarter of the population, which is roughly
200-thousand people, may be stranded and
unable to procure themselves food. We do
have food in Jakarta. We have 6-thousand
tons of rice that could be shipped very
quickly to East Timor. But, we need
security conditions (i.e. improved
security).
/// END ACT ///
In another development, the United Nations top
human rights official, Mary Robinson, is calling
for a special session of the Human Rights
Commission to examine, what she calls, the
extremely serious situation in East Timor. In
the last decade, the Commission has held two
special sessions: one on the former Yugoslavia
and the other on the situation in Rwanda.
(Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/LTD/KL
07-Sep-1999 11:13 AM EDT (07-Sep-1999 1513 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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