DATE=7/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / ERITREANS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264734
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R,
says it plans to begin repatriating Eritrean refugees
from camps in Sudan. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports
the agency says the repatriation of the first group --
between one-thousand and 15-hundred refugees -- could
start as early as Tuesday.
TEXT: The United Nations refugee agency estimates 92-
thousand Eritreans fled to Sudan during the recent
conflict with Ethiopia. It says it hopes to help all
of them return to Eritrea in the coming months.
U-N-H-C-R spokeswoman Delphine Marie says all returns
will be voluntary. She says trucks will transport the
refugees either to their homes or to one of three
special transit centers, in case they are not able to
return to their home areas.
Ms. Marie says the governments of Sudan and Eritrea
have agreed on arrangements for the repatriation.
/// MARIE ACT ONE ///
According to an agreement between the two states
and as well as the U-N-H-C-R, they are going to
bring back their properties -- be it animals,
donkeys, and donkey carts, some of the goods
that were distributed to them in the camps of
Sudan -- without any problems at the border.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Marie says many of the refugees may not be able to
immediately return home. Some of them come from areas
in southwestern Eritrea, which still are occupied by
Ethiopian forces. And other areas may not be safe
because of landmines.
The refugee agency spokeswoman says no refugee will be
forced to go home. But, she says, she believes most
will want to return. She says the Eritrean government
has let them know that they will be welcomed and
protected back home.
Ms. Marie says many of the refugees in Sudan have not
waited for the organized repatriation program.
/// MARIE ACT TWO ///
The Eritreans themselves have shown to be very
anxious to return home. And, for the past few
weeks already, there have been a lot of
spontaneous returns. Only recently, last week,
there was a convoy of 35 trucks owned by them
that was organized and left the camps of Lafa
right across the border in Sudan to go back into
Eritrea.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Marie says that during the past few weeks more
than 35-hundred refugees have returned to Eritrea on
their own.
She says the refugee agency will support those
refugees who have to stay in transit centers. She
says the agency also will continue to provide
assistance to more than one-half-million displaced
people in Eritrea. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/WTW
24-Jul-2000 09:06 AM EDT (24-Jul-2000 1306 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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