DATE=8/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / CONGO (L-O)
NUMBER=2-265011
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-N refugee agency says conditions are
getting worse for tens-of-thousands of refugees who
fled to Congo-Brazzaville to escape fighting between
government and rebel forces in Congo-Kinshasa. Lisa
Schlein in Geneva reports the agency says it still has
limited access to about 65-thousand refugees in the
area.
TEXT: The United Nations says refugees from Congo-
Kinshasa are scattered along 700-kilometers of the
Congo and Ubangui rivers.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Kris Janowski says the area is
difficult to reach under normal conditions. And, he
says conditions are far from normal, making access to
most of the refugees virtually impossible.
Mr. Janowski says armed gangs are operating along the
river, harassing traffic and endangering aid workers
trying to deliver relief supplies.
/// JANOWSKI ACT ONE ///
It is quite tough and it is getting worse
because in certain areas, the locals and
refugees are competing for fairly scarce
resources. They do not have fishing equipment,
and even if they do the locals are upset about
thousands of people arriving and competing for
the natural resources of the area.
/// END ACT ///
U-N aid workers recently visited two towns along the
river to assess conditions. Mr. Janowski says the
workers found two main foods - manioc and corn flour -
are becoming scarce. He says there are no apparent
signs of malnutrition, but health problems are
growing.
/// JANOWSKI ACT TWO ///
We certainly have reports of malaria, primarily,
skin diseases, which are caused by this sort
of situation. So, it is certainly not ideal.
And, the sanitary situation is difficult because
there are not proper latrines, and when you do
not have proper latrines and you have human
waste mixing with drinking water, there is
always the danger of water-borne diseases.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Janowski says the U-N aid workers confirmed the
presence of about two-thousand refugees between the
towns of Loukolela and Liranga. He says small numbers
of refugees continue to arrive in all locations
downstream from Liranga.
He says the refugees reportedly are fleeing to avoid
being forced to join government forces in Congo-
Kinshasa. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/RAE
01-Aug-2000 08:38 AM EDT (01-Aug-2000 1238 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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