DATE=2/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / ZAMBIA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258818 (CQ)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R,
says about eight-thousand refugees from war-torn Angola
are trapped in a remote, dangerous border area of Zambia.
Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the agency is having
difficulty moving the Angolans to a safer location.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency says the eight-thousand
Angolan refugees in western Zambia are in danger
because their camp is along the border in a very
insecure area.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says the camp has a
large stock of food and a mobile clinic. But, he says
no one can guarantee the safety of the refugees.
/// REDMOND ACT ONE ///
I believe the intention is to take everyone out
of Sinjembela just because of its close
proximity to the border. It's very dangerous.
Apparently you can see helicopter gunships on
the other side. It's very close to the
fighting. And, it's so remote, it's difficult
to deliver anything there.
/// END ACT ///
But, getting the refugees out of Sinjembela is a
logistical nightmare. Mr. Redmond says there is no
airstrip in the area. Therefore, the refugees have to
be transferred by road 120 kilometers to a new refugee
site in Nangweshi. But, he says the road is so bad,
it takes three days to complete a round trip. He says
the agency can transport only about 300 people a week
using seven trucks and four tractors. He says the
agency is getting additional trucks to speed the
operation.
/// REDMOND ACT TWO ///
It is such a slow process that we're now going
to ask the people if they want to walk because
the trucks go at walking speed. Several of the
people have asked if they could walk just to get
out of there because it's so insecure. So,
we're setting up six way-stations with food,
medical care, water and so on along that route
so people will be able to walk out if they wish.
/// END ACT ///
There are more than 200-thousand refugees in Zambia,
most of them from Angola. About 22-thousand have
arrived since October.
Recently, the U-N refugee agency and World Food
Program airlifted nearly 23-hundred refugees from a
makeshift camp in Kalabo, which is north of
Sinjembela.
Another 25-hundred Angolans remain in Kalabo. The
area is experiencing heavy rain. But, the refugee
agency says the refugees are safe and they have plenty
of food. Therefore, it says the group can remain in
Kalabo until mid-March when it will be possible to
transport them by barge on the Zambezi River to a
better, more accessible camp. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/JO
04-Feb-2000 10:45 AM EDT (04-Feb-2000 1545 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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