DATE=7/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=UNHCR / CONGO REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264772
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency, U-N-H-C-R,
says it still is not able to provide humanitarian
assistance to most of the 65-thousand refugees who
fled to Congo-Brazzaville to escape fighting in Congo-
Kinshasa. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the agency
says it is meeting with authorities in Congo-
Brazzaville to discuss ways to improve access.
TEXT: The United Nations refugee agency says as many
as 65-thousand refugees from Congo-Kinshasa are
scattered in remote villages along a 700-kilometer
stretch of the Congo and Ubangui Rivers. This area
forms the border between Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-
Brazzaville.
The agency says the number of refugees fleeing Congo-
Kinshasa has increased significantly since fighting
between government and rebel forces there intensified.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says the only way to
reach the refugees is by traveling on the rivers.
But, he says, river traffic has come to a virtual
standstill.
/// REDEMOND ACT ///
It's simply too dangerous to travel up there by
river, which is the only way to reach these
people because of gunfire and continuing
insecurity, so bullets flying and the
possibility of staff being held or detained,
these are the main reasons. So, we're
discussing with the government in Republic of
Congo today perhaps escorts or something like
that so we can get up there.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says aid workers are particularly worried
about their inability to reach thousands of refugees
trapped in the town of Njoundou. He says a U-N-H-C-R
team last visited the town on July 8th. He says
medical workers who were present uncovered an alarming
health situation. He says they found some five-
thousand people out of an estimated 20-thousand are
suffering from some kind of ailment.
/// 2ND REDMOND ACT ///
These include asthma, hepatitis, ear infections
and an estimated 500 to 600 intestinal cases,
some of them diagnosed as shigella, which is a
highly contagious type of dysentery that
requires treatment by antibiotics and a high-
protein intake as well.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says it is extremely important for aid
workers to gain access to these refugees, otherwise
health problems will worsen. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/WTW
25-Jul-2000 09:47 AM EDT (25-Jul-2000 1347 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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