DATE=7/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / CONGO-KINSHASA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264425
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R,
says a deteriorating security situation in Congo-
Kinshasa is creating enormous difficulties for aid
workers who are trying to bring humanitarian
assistance to thousands of refugees in neighboring
Congo-Brazzaville. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The refugee agency says fighting between the
Congolese army and rebels has forced the agency to
temporarily suspend all relief movements on the Congo
River.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says this is making
access to thousands of refugees extremely difficult.
He says aid workers had been delivering non-food items
by motorized canoe to refugees living along the river.
/// REDMOND ACT ONE ///
We can no longer use the river because of the
fighting, so we are forced to use much more
difficult land routes. There are some 11-to-12-
thousand people we're trying to get assistance
to. And, this is absolutely essential because
there has been an outbreak of shigella, which is
a highly contagious disease with symptoms
similar to cholera.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says people with shigella require
antibiotic treatment as well as oral rehydration salts
and high protein food. He says young children,
chronically ill, and elderly people are most at risk.
He says the U-N-H-C-R medical coordinator is in the
region to supervise treatment.
/// REDMOND ACT TWO ///
We're hopeful if we can continue to maintain
access to this very remote area [so] that we can
control this outbreak of disease. The team will
continue to try to use some of these old jungle
tracks -- they are in very poor condition -- to
try to reach these people. We are looking at
the possibility of building a new camp further
away from the river so these people can all be
placed in one area, and it will be easier, then,
to control any possible disease outbreaks and
provide assistance to them.
/// END ACT ///
In addition to the 12-thousand refugees who fled
renewed fighting in Congo-Kinshasa in recent weeks,
the U-N refugee agency is assisting another 19-
thousand refugees who settled further along the
Ubangui River. The agency estimates there are another
five-thousand to 10-thousand refugees who are in
inaccessible areas along the border between the two
Congos. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/JP
14-Jul-2000 09:57 AM EDT (14-Jul-2000 1357 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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