DATE=12/14/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / CHECHNYA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257133
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency, U-N-H-
C-R, says few civilians trapped in the Chechen
capital, Grozny, appear to be taking up the
Russian offer of safe passage out of the city.
Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the U-N agency
says the number of Chechens crossing into the
neighboring Republic of Ingushetia has slowed to
a trickle.
TEXT: The United Nations Refugee Agency reports
only 14-hundred Chechens crossed into Ingushetia
on Monday. This is well below the thousands of
people who were, until recently, fleeing Chechnya
on an almost daily basis. Since Russia began its
military offensive in late September, nearly a
quarter of a million people have found refuge in
Ingushetia.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman, Ron Redmond, says only a few
hundred Chechens, so far, have used the Russian-
designated safe corridors in Grozny to escape.
He says people probably aren't using these routes
for a variety of reasons.
/// REDMOND ACT ///
They're unable to move because they're
sick, wounded, ill, elderly. And, also
because some people simply haven't got the
word that these corridors are even there.
If you're holed up in a cellar, in a bombed
out building (with) no electricity, no
radio, no means of communication you're not
going to easily get the word. Apparently
leaflets have been dropped and there are
radio broadcasts. But, if you don't have
access to that, you're not going to know
about this.
/// END ACT ///
Last week, Russia issued an ultimatum to the
people of Grozny to leave the city or risk being
injured or killed by military attacks. Under
intense international pressure, the Russians have
backed off from this threat. They have opened up
two safe corridors by which people can leave
before the military offensive begins. Mr.
Redmond says various sources put the number of
civilians remaining in Grozny between 15-thousand
and 40-thousand.
While fewer people are leaving Chechnya, Mr.
Redmond says the number of refugees in Ingushetia
going to Russian-controlled areas in Chechnya is
increasing. On Monday, he says more than 900
refugees returned. And since November 1st, he
says nearly 36-thousand people have gone back to
Chechnya.
/// 2nd REDMOND ACT ///
The number going back from Ingushetia to
Chechnya is an indication of the
desperation some of these people feel
living in these very difficult camps. Of
course, a lot of people are also living
with host families there. But, even that
capacity has been reached I think. There's
just not a lot of space left in Ingushetia
according to the authorities there.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says many of the people going back to
Chechnya are returning to areas they fled during
the Russian bombardment. He says these area now
are under Russian control and are said to be
secure. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/LTD/KL
14-Dec-1999 10:10 AM EDT (14-Dec-1999 1510 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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