DATE=6/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N ERITREA REFUGEES (L ONLY) CQ
NUMBER=2-263068
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: United Nations relief officials are struggling
to cope with an estimated 150-thousand Eritreans who
have fled the fighting between their country and
Ethiopia. V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports
from the United Nations.
TEXT: The office of the U-N High Commissioner for
Refugees, known as U-N-H-C-R, says thousands of
Eritreans are camped along the border with Sudan and
are running short of food and water. Already, more
than 41-thousand Eritreans have entered Sudan's
eastern state of Kassala seeking asylum.
U-N spokesman Fred Eckhard says the uncertain status
of the Ethiopia-Eritrea war is hampering relief
efforts.
/// Eckhard Act ///
U-N-H-C-R is already deploying staff to the
region to coordinate relief efforts inside
Eritrea but the headquarters staff in Asmara
(Eritrea's capital) are awaiting confirmation of
Ethiopia's announcements that its troops will
withdraw from Eritrea so that they (relief
workers) can have unhindered access to the
displaced population.
/// End Act ///
U-N officials say that, in addition to the refugees
who have fled into or near Sudan, 450 Eritreans
arrived by boat in Yemen and another 250 recently fled
across Eritrea's southern border to Djibouti.
(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/ENE/PW/gm
01-Jun-2000 18:23 PM LOC (01-Jun-2000 2223 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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