DATE=11/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / CHECHNYA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255733
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R,
is voicing continued concern about the thousands of
people stranded along the border between Chechnya and
Ingushetia (in Southern Russia). Lisa Schlein in
Geneva reports the agency says Russian authorities are
allowing only a trickle of refugees fleeing the
fighting in Chechnya to cross the border.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency says Russian authorities
are opening the border during the day between Chechnya
and Ingushetia. But, it says the alarmingly slow pace
at which the refugees are allowed to cross means the
border for most people is effectively closed.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Kris Janowski says only a few
dozen Chechens were allowed to cross into Ingushetia
during the first hour on Tuesday.
/// JANOWSKI ACT ONE ///
People are crossing in both directions to
Chechnya. Some are going back to Chechnya to
pick up their relatives they had left behind and
bring them out of Chechnya. And, some are
leaving Chechnya for Ingushetia.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Janowski says there are reports that an estimated
five-thousand people are massing on the Ingushetia
side of the border and another 10-thousand are on the
Chechen side waiting to cross. He says that on
Monday, only 164 people in Chechnya were allowed to
pass into Ingushetia. And, he says only about 400
people were let back into Chechnya to try to get their
relatives.
/// JANOWSKI ACT TWO ///
For comparison, before the clampdown at the
border, the rate of crossing was between five-
thousand and seven-thousand a day. So this is
the real capacity of the border. At the moment,
there are elaborate checks both by the Russian
federal forces and the Ingush Interior Ministry
which is slowing down. We are also concerned
about the continued civilian casualties in
Chechnya of the Russian military operation
there.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Janowski says the United Nations is concerned by a
reported rocket attack on a convoy of people fleeing
Chechnya last Friday. Two Red Cross workers were
killed in that attack.
The U-N refugee agency estimates about 180-thousand
Chechens have fled to Ingushetia.
The agency says a fifth convoy of relief supplies
reached Ingushetia's capital, Nazran, on Tuesday after
an overnight journey from Stavropol. The agency says
a great deal more food, medical supplies, and shelter
assistance will have to be sent to Ingushetia to help
the Chechen refugees survive the winter. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/JO
02-Nov-1999 09:15 AM EDT (02-Nov-1999 1415 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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