DATE=2/23/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-174534

TITLE=CHECHEN AID (S-ONLY)

BYLINE=PEGGY POLK

DATELINE=ROME

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: THE U-N WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) HAS BEGUN AIRLIFTING

EMERGENCY RATIONS TO REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED THE FIGHTING IN THE

BREAKAWAY RUSSIAN REPUBLIC OF CHECHNYA. PEGGY POLK REPORTS, THE

FIRST FLIGHT CARRIED 30 TONS OF FOOD FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO

NORTH OSSETIA.

TEXT: THE ROME-BASED WORLD FOOD PROGRAM SAID THE AIRLIFT WILL

PROVIDE EMERGENCY FOOD AID UNTIL IT CAN ORGANIZE OVERLAND

OPERATIONS.

DURING THE NEXT THREE AND A HALF WEEKS, W-F-P AIRCRAFT WILL

DELIVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION DAILY RATIONS PLUS 200 TONS OF

PRIVATELY DONATED PASTA TO FEED ABOUT 180-THOUSAND REFUGEES. THE

16 FLIGHTS WILL GO TO NORTH OSSETIA, INGUSHETIA AND DAGESTAN.

W-F-P ESTIMATES THAT ONE HALF MILLION PEOPLE, MORE THAN ONE-THIRD

OF THE CHECHEN POPULATION, HAVE FLED THE REPUBLIC SINCE RUSSIAN

FORCES ATTACKED ON DECEMBER 11TH.

THE AGENCY SAID THAT FAMILIES IN SAFER AREAS IN AND AROUND

CHECHNYA HAVE TAKEN IN AT LEAST 90 PERCENT OF THE REFUGEES. BUT

SOME OF THE HOUSEHOLDS ARE PROVIDING FOR AS MANY AS 30 OR 40

REFUGEES AND ARE RUNNING OUT OF SUPPLIES. W-F-P HAS APPEALED FOR

SEVEN-POINT-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP FINANCE ITS SHARE OF THE

RELIEF EFFORT. (SIGNED)

NEB/PP/SKH/CF

23-Feb-95 9:19 AM EST (1419 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America