DATE=7/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / CONGO (L-O)
NUMBER=2-264048
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations says renewed fighting in
Congo-Kinshasa has caused more than 10-thousand people
to flee into neighboring Congo-Brazzaville. Lisa
Schlein in Geneva reports the agency says it has
launched an emergency relief operation to help the
newly arrived refugees.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency describes the emergency
relief operation as a risky undertaking. It says the
operation is taking place along the remote and highly
dangerous frontier between the two Congos.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Kris Janowski says staff members
worked by the light of hurricane lamps until Monday
morning to distribute relief supplies to more than 10-
thousand Congolese refugees.
/// JANOWSKI ACT ONE ///
There is apparently heavy fighting which can be
actually observed from the river in the Mbandeka
area. There had been fighting before. But,
this time, we are also getting people from the
Mbandaka town itself from which we previously
had not had any refugees which herald more
trouble essentially. It also means the town
itself might be engulfed in some sort of trouble
and there may be more people coming out.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Janowski says the new arrivals are in addition to
another 30-thousand to 40-thousand refugees from
Congo-Kinshasa refugees who fled into Congo-Brazaville
during the past year. He says they fled to escape
battles between rebels and government forces farther
north in Equator province.
The U-N-H-C-R spokesman says aid workers made two
trips upstream by motorized canoe to Njoundu from
Loukolela where the nearest airstrip is located. He
says the 12-hour boat trip up the Congo River is
extremely dangerous. He says fighting continues on
the shore and river traffic is often intercepted or
blocked by troops.
Mr. Janowski says he has received what he calls hair-
raising reports from the U-N-H-C-R team about the trip
upriver.
/// JANOWSKI ACT TWO ///
The reports were like something out of a novel,
almost being stopped in dramatic circumstances
at checkpoints. They did not know who was
actually stopping them, whether there had been
trouble or not, held for awhile and then allowed
to proceed. So, they had quite an odyssey up
the river in those canoes.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Janowski says the refugee agency is flying in
additional supplies from the Congolese capital,
Kinshasa, to Loukela. The supplies include plastic
sheets, hoes, machetes, and soap. He says fishing
nets also are being distributed to the refugees who
often rely on fishing for food. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/RAE
04-Jul-2000 10:12 AM EDT (04-Jul-2000 1412 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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