DATE=3/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLAN REFUGEES (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259870
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Twenty-thousand Angolan refugees are being
relocated from a flood-threatened region in Zambia by
the Geneva-based International Organization for
Migration. Lisa Schlein reports the refugees are
spread along a 90-kilometer strip in the Sinjembela
region of Zambia near the border with Angola.
TEXT: The International Organization for Migration
says the border area between Angola and Zambia is
insecure, with new fighting reported between UNITA
rebels and Angolan government soldiers.
But, the agency says the possibility of heavy flooding
in the coming weeks poses a bigger threat to the
refugees.
Spokesman Jean-Philippe Chauzy says heavy rains could
cause flooding in the region, making travel in and out
of the area impossible, and trapping the refugees
without food and other relief supplies. He says it is
urgent that the refugees be relocated as soon as
possible.
/// CHAUZY ACT ONE ///
This is definitely a race against time. It is
vitally important to get these 20-thousand odd
refugees out of this border region, to put them
on safe ground in proper camps where they will
be able to get help. And it is important to do
it now before the rains come down, before we
have more flooding in that area, and before
people are left completely stranded and
helpless.
/// END ACT ///
The International Organization for Migration had hoped
to move about 600-Angolans a day out of the region.
But, Mr. Chauzy says it is possible to move only about
400-people a day. He says the rains that have already
begun to fall have turned some parts of the road into
muddy quagmires.
Mr. Chauzy says the agency is chartering more trucks
so it can transport more people. He says the agency
hopes to relocate all the refugees 120-kilometers,
within the next month, to a camp near Nangweshi,
Zambia. He says in the new camp, the refugees will be
safe and able to get the food and medical help they
need.
Mr. Chauzy says most of the refugees are in reasonably
good health.
/// CHAUZY ACT TWO ///
That being said, we are facing an additional
problem because we have got hundreds of people
who have lost limbs on landmines and obviously
these are priority people to be evacuated from
this region. Obviously, if there is flooding,
it is important to get the most vulnerable out
of the area as quickly as possible.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Chauzy says most of the Angolan refugees are
teachers, doctors, and other professionals. He says
they have been arriving in Zambia in fairly large
numbers since last November.
But he says the flow of refugees to the area has
recently slowed. He says this may be because the
Angolans fear flooding in the region. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/RAE
06-Mar-2000 08:48 AM EDT (06-Mar-2000 1348 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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