DATE=11/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHECHNYA/REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256390
BYLINE=WILLIAM GASPERINI
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations' High Commissioner for
Refugees is wrapping up a visit to Russia with more
meetings with government officials in Moscow. Sadato
Ogata says her priority is to insure that more relief
supplies are delivered to refugees who have fled the
conflict in Chechnya. Bill Gasperini reports from
Moscow.
TEXT: U-N refugee commissioner Sadato Ogata is
completing a series of meetings with top Russian
officials to determine the best way to help the
refugees from Chechnya.
Mrs. Ogata was meeting with Foreign Minister Igor
Ivanov after discussing the situation with Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
She says Russia's ongoing military offensive has
resulted in a high number of refugee casualties.
During a visit to Ingushetia on Thursday, Mrs. Ogata
met with many wounded refugees. About 200-thousand
refugees are taking shelter in Ingushetia, the region
next to Chechnya.
Mrs. Ogata says the refugee crisis in Ingushetia is
not a "catastrophe," but that the situation there will
get worse unless more aid is sent.
There is a special need for more tents to house people
as winter weather sets in. Food and medicines are
also in short supply.
Mrs. Ogata says Russia is now more willing to work
with the United Nations and other agencies to cope
with the situation. For many weeks, Russia insisted
there was no refugee crisis and that it could handle
the situation on its own.
What remains unclear is how to help the many people
who are still inside Chechnya, unable to flee from
Russia's continuing air and artillery assault.
Most are trapped in underground shelters without
enough food and water, afraid to venture outside even
in the daytime.
The fear is real - many refugees in Ingushetia say
Russian warplanes fired on their vehicles as they were
traveling along the main route out of Chechnya.
(Signed)
NEB/WEG/ALW/JP
20-Nov-1999 09:36 AM EDT (20-Nov-1999 1436 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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