DATE=09/27/00
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / CONGO REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-267147
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R, has sent a delegation to study how aid can be brought to tens of thousands of refugees trapped in remote, inaccessible parts of the Republic of Congo. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The United Nations refugee agency estimates about 98-thousand refugees are scattered along the Ubangui and Congo rivers in the Republic of Congo.. They fled to the area to escape fighting in Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A majority of the refugees are living along parts of the river which are not reachable because of the tension. The U-N-H-C-R delegation will visit several of the areas to seek ways to get aid to refugees who are living in inaccessible locations.
Delphine Marie of the U-N-H-C-R says one option is possible cross-border aid deliveries from the Central African Republic.
She says many of the refugees have been surviving by living with friends and relatives. But, she says food resources are becoming scarce and outside assistance is urgently needed.
/// MARIE ACT ONE ///
Fishing is becoming very difficult in the river once again because of security there. And, any other food resources, such as manioc and fruit that could be found in the area, are becoming insufficient for the big load of people who arrived there. Some of the villages have quadrupled their populations within a couple of months and obviously it creates a big problem.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Marie says in some of the villages that can be visited, aid workers are beginning to see signs of malnutrition among children. She says there are numerous medical problems and fears are rising about possible epidemics.
She says another recent delegation to Betou in the northern part of the Republic of Congo confirmed the presence of an estimated 20-thousand refugees in the area. She says thousands more are believed to be scattered in the forest and in areas farther south of the river. Most of the refugees arrived in July. She says they are putting tremendous pressure on the local population, which numbered about seven-thousand before the refugees arrived.
/// MARIE ACT TWO ///
This mission found that these people are in urgent need of assistance including shelter, medical assistance, food and agricultural equipment so they can start providing for their own needs. U-N-H-C-R will probably set up an office in Betou and negotiate with the local authorities to obtain some land for these people to survive by themselves. Or, at least to provide for their essential needs.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Marie says the refugee agency is planning to send other assistance, including plastic sheeting, wooden rafters, kitchen sets, and blankets. In addition, she says studies will be conducted on water quality and construction of sanitation facilities. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/GE/JWH
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