DATE=1/28/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / CHECHEN REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258527
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency, U-N-H-
C-R, says thousands of people are continuing to
flee fierce fighting in Chechnya. Lisa Schlein
in Geneva reports the agency says more than 22-
hundred Chechens crossed into the neighboring
Republic of Ingushetia on Thursday.
TEXT: The United Nations Refugee Agency says
fighting in and around the Chechen capital,
Grozny, is driving more and more people from
their homes. But, the agency says, few if any
people, are coming out of Grozny because the
escape routes are blocked.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says most of the
people who crossed into Ingushetia on Thursday
were coming back into the republic after having
briefly visited their homes and relatives in
northern Chechnya. He says the refugees also
included 450 people who fled fierce fighting in
the Shatoy area south of Grozny.
/// REDMOND ACT ///
The main border crossing at Kavkaz is
handling two-way traffic in and out of
Chechnya. Many people go to the north to
check on their property. And, also elderly
and frail relatives who, for one reason or
another, were unable to leave. Some of
these people told U-N-H-C-R after visiting
Russian controlled parts of Chechnya that
they were afraid to go back there.
/// END ACT ///
Russian officials estimate about 90-thousand
refugees have returned to so-called safe,
Russian-controlled areas, in northern Chechnya.
Mr. Redmond says the constant two-way movement
across the border makes it virtually impossible
to know how many people have gone back to
Chechnya to stay and how many have come back and
remain in Ingushetia.
Mr. Redmond says conditions in the refugee camps
in Ingushetia are deteriorating. He says harsh
winter conditions are making the lives of tens of
thousands of refugees more miserable. The people
are packed into makeshift settlements and tented
camps.
Mr. Redmond says the worsening health of the
refugees and potential threat of epidemics is
causing alarm.
/// 2ND REDMOND ACT ///
Some of the camps are totally infested with
lice and scabies. A local 300 bed T-B
(tuberculosis) treatment clinic is full,
192 of the beds are being taken by
displaced people. Medical workers also
report some isolated cases of H-I-V.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says winterized tents and stoves are
keeping the people relatively warm. But he says
the lack of water, sanitation, baby food and
medicine are widespread. He says about two
thousand babies have been born over the last four
months. And, he adds, there is an acute need for
baby clothes and diapers. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/KL
28-Jan-2000 08:54 AM EDT (28-Jan-2000 1354 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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