DATE=7/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=UNHCR / ERITREA REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264304
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency, U-N-H-C-R,
says it will meet with Eritrean and Sudanese officials
later this week in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, to
discuss plans for the possible repatriation of an
estimated 90-thousand Eritrean refugees now in Sudan.
Lisa Schlein in Geneva has this report.
TEXT: The United Nations Refugee Agency says the
Eritrean government has been putting pressure on the
agency to repatriate their citizens as soon as
possible.
Delphine Marie of the U-N-H-C-R says participants at
the meeting in Asmara will consider when it will
become politically feasible for the refugees to return
home.
///MARIE ACT///
The big part of it will be the logistical
organization of this whole operation, mainly the
transport and equipment at the camps that will
receive the Eritreans who will become, if it's
done that way, who will become internally
displaced people in their own country before
they can go back to their area of origin.
///END ACT///
Ms. Marie explains the Eritrean government wants the
refugees to return quickly even if it means that many
of them will not be able to go to their homes, but
will have to stay in camps for internally displaced
people. She says some of the areas from which the
refugees come are still occupied by Ethiopian troops.
In addition, she says there may be a problem of
landmines.
Delphine Marie says relief agencies in Eritrea have
released new figures showing an estimated 400-thousand
displaced people currently in 28 camps around the
country.
///2nd MARIE ACT///
Many of these camps are lacking dramatically
basic sanitation, water and other equipment.
But, if we decide to bring back the Eritreans
from Sudan, obviously we will have to support
this operation by greatly enhancing the
capacity of these camps to receive this new
caseload.
///END ACT///
Ms. Marie says the rainy season has begun in Eritrea,
making many roads virtually impassible. She says the
rains will have to stop before any large-scale
repatriation operation can get underway. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/AMAHL/KBK
11-Jul-2000 10:54 AM EDT (11-Jul-2000 1454 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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