RACISM BLAMED FOR APATHY OVER AID

from Leyla Linton in Brussels

EMMA BONINO, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid. yesterday accused the world community of indifference bordering on racism in tackling the refugee crisis in eastern Zaire.

"How many lives have to be in danger. how many people missing. to justify a deployment of troops by the civilised world?" she asked the European Parliament. "Is it the colour of their skin which makes the difference, which leads us to believe that it is their inevitable lot to be linked to a cycle of massacres?"

Signora Bonino said a proposed United Nations multinational force was essential to allow relief workers to save lives in Zaire. otherwise they risked being killed or taken hostage. She believed there was an urgent need to disarm the refugees.

The Commission has asked the Western European Union. the European pillar of Nato, to consider how it could help the relief effort. The WEU has discussed providing logistical support.

Countries contributing to the force are due to meet today in Stuttgart to assess the situation after 500.000 refugees left their camps in eastern Zaire and unexpectedly returned to Rwanda last week.

Signora Bonino feared, however, that the mass exodus of refugeeswould diminish international support for those who remain. An intervention was considered justified for 1.2 million refugees, and now they say things have changed. Is that what you call the civilised world?" she demanded.

She criticised the European Union's foreign and security policy for being too tied to national interests.