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DATE=3/28/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=UNHCR / CHECHNYA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260676
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The U-N Refugee Agency says civilians are 
continuing to flee fighting in southern Chechnya for 
the neighboring Russian Republic of Ingushetia.  Lisa 
Schlein in Geneva reports the agency says about one-
thousand Chechens have fled during the past week.
TEXT:  The U-N Refugee Agency says the latest arrivals 
bring the number of Chechen refugees in Ingushetia to 
about 214-thousand. 
U-N-H-C-R Spokesman, Kris Janowski, says the refugees 
report widespread destruction of property and a 
continuing military push by Russian troops inside 
Chechnya. 
            /// JANOWSKI ACT ///
      Some of the villages have been heavily destroyed 
      with virtually all private homes being wiped 
      out.  There is still military activity in those 
      areas.  The new influx has caused the Russian 
      Emergencies Ministry to ask the U-N-H-C-R for an 
      additional 150-tents, some beds, cots and 
      blankets and so-on and so forth to accommodate 
      these people. 
            /// END ACT ///
Russian soldiers reportedly are attacking positions in 
the southern mountains to flush out rebels who 
retreated there from the Chechen capital, Grozny.  
Mr. Janowski says the Russians have been lining up 
free transportation to take people in Ingushetia back 
to Chechnya.  But, he says very few people are taking 
up the Russians on their offer.
            /// 2ND JANOWSKI ACT ///
      We spoke to a woman who was afraid to go back 
      because she has military-age sons and she was 
      afraid they may be picked up by the Russians.  
      So, there is fear of detention.  We also spoke 
      to one man who said he went briefly back to 
      Grozny.  But, he was absolutely terrified by an 
      entirely empty city, devastated, with [an] only 
      occasional supply of food and water, and 
      constant bursts of machine gun fire, and he 
      decided to turn around and come back to 
      Ingushetia.  
            /// END ACT ///
The U-N Refugee Agency has sent 52 relief convoys to 
the northern Caucuses.  Most have gone to Ingushetia.  
One convoy of food, medicine, and other relief 
supplies was sent to Grozny a month ago.  
The agency has been hoping to send more relief 
supplies to the devastated capital, but Mr. Janowski 
says the security situation is not good enough to send 
another convoy right now.   (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/GE/RAE 
28-Mar-2000 09:19 AM EDT (28-Mar-2000 1419 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.