ZAIRE: TINGI TINGI CAMP: REFUGEES IN A DESPERATE SITUATION

Описание: (22 Jan 1997) Natural Sound

The refugee situation in Zaire is still severe, despite a large-scale exodus of Hutus back to neighbouring Rwanda.

In the remote camp of Tingi-Tingi some 270 kilometres (200 miles) southeast of the regional capital Kisangani, aid workers say supplies are far short of what's needed and hundreds have perished of disease and malnutrition.

Zaire formally declared war on the Tutsi-backed rebels on Monday, pledging a massive counteroffensive to recover territory along its eastern border.

But aid workers warned the fighting could spell disaster for the mainly Hutu refugees from Rwanda's 1994 civil war.

This is the refugee camp of Tingi-Tingi, sandwiched between the warring Tutsi-led rebels and Zairean army troops.

The refugees are in a desperate situation, hundreds have perished from disease and malnutrition.

Aid workers say Monday's formal declaration of war on the rebels by Zaire could make their plight worse.

Zaire pledged a massive counteroffensive to recover territory along its eastern border.

And as Zairean soldiers and mercenaries prepared Tuesday for battle in nearby Kisangani, aid workers warned the fighting could spell disaster for the mainly Hutu refugees from Rwanda's 1994 civil war.

Aid workers are urging the international community to move quickly to arrange a ceasefire and help the refugees return home.

An estimated 120-thousand people live in Tingi-Tingi camp, and are among 400 to 500-thousand refugees aid officials believe are scattered inside eastern Zaire following an offensive last fall by the Tutsi-led rebels backed by Rwanda.

The refugees are mostly Rwandan Hutus who fled their homeland in 1994, fearing retribution for the slaughter of more than a half-million minority Tutsis.

Refugees are so desperate they barter their clothes for food.

Aid workers struggle to meet the medical demands of the refugees, but they are understaffed and short of medical supplies.

The World Health Organization said Sunday the refugees, lacking proper shelter, food and water, face a devastating cholera epidemic unless more help arrives soon.

It said two refugees have died of cholera and at least 56 others are afflicted with the deadly disease in Tingi-Tingi, about 170 miles southeast of the regional capital, Kisangani.

The French-based Doctors Without Borders reported 105 cholera cases. It said 526 refugees have died at Tingi-Tingi, 287 of them under the age of 5.

The already perilous aid situation at Tingi-Tingi is likely to worsen if fighting threatens the road linking rebel-held Walikale and army-held Kisangani, currently controlled by the Zaireans and where aid planes land.

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