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DATE=1/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHECHEN REFUGEES (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258288
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R, 
reports there has been a sharp increase in the number 
of refugees fleeing intensified fighting in Chechnya 
to the neighboring Russian Republic of Ingushetia.  
Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT:  The U-N refugee agency estimates about 23-
hundred Chechens crossed into Ingushetia on Thursday.  
It says this represents the highest daily figure in 
several weeks.  
The refugee agency says the refugees are fleeing 
fierce fighting between Russian troops and Chechen 
rebels in the capital, Grozny.  However, the agency 
says it is  not  clear if those fleeing to Ingushetia 
include residents of Grozny or other areas of 
Chechnya.  
Just a few days ago, the refugee agency reported all 
escape routes out of the capital were blocked, 
trapping thousands of civilians in the city.  U-N-H-C-
R spokesman Ron Redmond says the agency is  not  sure 
if this is still the case.
            /// REDMOND ACT ONE ///
      We're  not  sure what route these people are 
      taking out.  We're  not  sure what the 
      conditions are outside of Grozny.  But, 
      hopefully today, our monitors in the area will 
      be talking to some of those people who have come 
      out.
            /// END ACT ///
Between 10-thousand and 25-thousand civilians are 
believed to be in Grozny, living in cellars with 
little or no food.  
The refugee agency reports about 800 people went back 
to Russian-controlled areas in Chechnya on Thursday.  
Mr. Redmond says they returned to northern areas where 
fighting is not taking place.
He says the sharp increase in those fleeing Chechnya 
comes after a week of very limited cross-border 
movement.  This, he says, followed an order on January 
11th by Russian military commanders to bar males 
between the ages of 10 and 60 from crossing the 
border. 
            /// REDMOND ACT TWO ///
      That ban was lifted three days later.  But all 
      of those crossing have since been subjected to 
      elaborate checks and body searches by the 
      Russian military and security forces.  We also 
      have unconfirmed reports about draft-age men 
      being detained at the border and held by Russian 
      forces in their main military headquarters in 
      Mozdok. 
            /// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says it is very difficult to monitor the 
humanitarian situation of the civilians caught in 
battle areas because there are no international aid 
workers inside Chechnya.  (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/ENE/KL
21-Jan-2000 10:08 AM EDT (21-Jan-2000 1508 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.