DATE=1/28/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=UNICEF / BURUNDI REFUGEES (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258528
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF,
says about 400 Burundian refugees are fleeing into
Tanzania every day. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports
UNICEF says a large proportion of the refugees are
children - many in poor health.
TEXT: UNICEF says most of the refugees arriving in
Tanzania from Burundi are women and children. Lyn
Geldof from UNICEF says the condition of the new
arrivals is generally terrible, and is being made even
worse by the rainy weather.
/// GELDOF ACT ///
We have reports of children shivering under
plastic sheeting as their parents have to wait
awhile before they can set up temporary shelters
for themselves. And, (it is) a generally
miserable state of affairs.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Geldof says some of the children are chronically
ill and are receiving special nutritional feeding.
The United Nations has set up a new camp at Karago to
accommodate 25-thousand refugees. Ms. Geldof says the
camp is functioning well and is equipped with clean
water and a hospital. And she says UNICEF is helping
to train health staff in the camp.
/// GELDOF ACT ///
UNICEF is providing polio and measles vaccine
there, teaching the people at the transit
centers how to screen for health, and also
identify unaccompanied minors. The tracing
operation for these unaccompanied minors has
begun. We're talking about three-hundred-99 at
the moment.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Geldof says aid workers are taking photographs of
the children who have become separated from their
parents. They will be posted in the camp in the next
10 days.
She says local host communities in Tanzania are having
difficulty dealing with the increasing influx of
Burundian refugees. She says UNICEF is trying to
relieve some of this burden. The agency is
strengthening educational opportunities, she says, and
already has rehabilitated 10 schools in the area.
Ms. Geldof also says UNICEF's operation in Tanzania is
practically bankrupt and most of its stock of relief
supplies in the capital, Dar es Salaam, is depleted.
(Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/LTD/JP
28-Jan-2000 09:01 AM EDT (28-Jan-2000 1401 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
