DATE=7/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / LIBERIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264424
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R,
says it has suspended the repatriation of Liberian
refugees who are in Guinea-Conakry because of renewed
fighting along the border between rebels and Liberian
government forces. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency had planned to stop the
repatriation operation later this month because of
expected heavy rains, and resume it in October.
But Delphine Marie of the U-N-H-C-R says renewed
fighting between Liberian government and rebel forces
along the Liberian-Guinean border forced a suspension
earlier than planned and is calling the operation into
question.
/// MARIE ACT ONE ///
Our worry now is that the suspension might be
longer than expected. And, we will be
monitoring the situation very closely in the
coming months, hoping to be able to resume
repatriation as soon as possible because there
are still a lot of Liberians remaining in
Guinea. Most of them have been there for more
than 10 years.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Marie says the Macenta refugee camp in Guinea-
Conakry already has about 50-thousand refugees from
Liberia. She says that because of the fighting, the
agency is making plans for the possible arrival of
thousands of additional refugees from Liberia.
/// MARIE ACT TWO ///
It will be, obviously, a very strong weight on
our operations there because the financial
aspect remains a concern. Some of the money
that was earmarked for repatriation is being
used at the moment to continue assistance to
these refugees, which we are hoping to do after
2000. After that, it will create a more
important problem and a question mark remains on
the future of these refugees.
/// END ACT ///
The repatriation resumed in May following an eight-
month freeze. Since then, the U-N-H-C-R has helped
more than five-thousand Liberians go home. Another
32-thousand have signed up for repatriation this year.
There are about 125-thousand Liberian refugees in
Guinea. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/JP
14-Jul-2000 09:49 AM EDT (14-Jul-2000 1349 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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