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DATE=9/28/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-254405
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Tens of thousands of refugees are fleeing 
Chechnya, as Russian jets continue air strikes on the 
breakaway region.  V-O-A's Peter Heinlein in Moscow 
reports officials in the neighboring Ingushetia region 
in southern Russia are asking the United Nations for 
help in coping with the refugee influx.
TEXT:  An official at the Moscow office of the U-N 
refugee agency says Ingushetia has officially 
requested assistance in caring for Chechen refugees 
fleeing Russian bomb attacks.  The official, who 
requested anonymity, says U-N help would soon be on 
the way.
            /// U-N-H-C-R ACT ///
      And we can say now that following consultations 
      with federal authorities, the U-N-H-C-R is 
      planning to deliver a consignment of emergency 
      supplies in the next few days.
            /// END ACT ///
Authorities estimate as many as 100-thousand Chechens 
-- more 10 percent of the region's population -- may 
have already arrived in Ingushetia since the bombs 
started falling on Grozny (Chechnya's capital) last 
week.  Ingushetia has a population of only about 300-
thousand. 
Ingush President Ruslan Aushev says he expects the 
number of refugees to double if the bombings continue, 
and warns the region could face a humanitarian 
disaster.
/// AUSHEV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says, "If it keeps going like it has, we'll 
probably receive 200-thousand refugees."  He appealed 
to the people of Ingushetia to help by taking in as 
many displaced people as possible to private homes.
Russia's Emergency Situations Minister, Sergei Shoigu, 
flew to Ingushetia on Tuesday, describing the refugee 
crisis as "serious." But he said talk of a 
humanitarian disaster is premature.
/// SHOIGU ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says, "I think we can cope with the problem 
ourselves."  Mr. Shoigu ordered construction of 
refugee camps, and said the federal government would 
also airlift 40 tons of aid to the region.
Meanwhile, Russian planes are continuing bomb 
Chechnya, although  no  strikes were reported Tuesday 
in Grozny.  Military spokesmen say the targets were 
mostly oil and energy installations.
The air strikes began after Russia accused Chechen 
terrorists of bombing apartment buildings in Moscow 
and other cities.  Russian Interior Minister Vladimir 
Rushailo Tuesday said police had identified the 
bombers and made some arrests. 
He said warrants had also been issued for 17 Chechen 
warlords in connection with the case.  But he, like 
other Russian officials, did  not  give any details of 
the evidence against the suspects.
Chechen officials, including President Aslan Maskhadov 
and renegade warlord Shamil Basayev, have denied any 
involvement in the bombings in Russia.  They say the 
attacks, which killed nearly 300 people, were part of 
a campaign aimed at turning Russian public opinion 
against Chechnya in preparation for the current air 
strikes. (Signed)
NEB/PFH/JWH/JO
28-Sep-1999 11:52 AM EDT (28-Sep-1999 1552 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.