Congressional panel hears Zaire testimony

[UPI / DANA KOPP FRANKLIN]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Members of a congressional panel grilled
administration officials Wednesday about U.S. response to the continuing
refugee crisis in eastern Zaire and Rwanda.
``We cannot let the recent repatriation of 500,000 refugees distract
us from the urgent task of providing humanitarian aid to the hundreds of
thousands of remaining refugees who desperately need our help -- and who
may die if they do not get it soon,'' said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J.,
chairman of the House Subcommittee on International Operations and Human
Rights.
The panel heard testimony from administration representatives -- from
the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and
the Pentagon -- charged with dealing with the plight of the refugees in
central Africa.
Millions of people have fled their homes in recent years because of
ongoing civil and ethnic violence in the region. Last month, about 1
million Rwandan and Burundian refugees were attacked and driven out of
U.N. camps in eastern Zaire, sparking fears of mass death from
starvation or violence to rival the estimated 500,000 people slain in
Rwanda in 1994.
Just as the United States signed onto a Canadian plan for a
multinational military force to deal with the humanitarian crisis, about
600,000 Rwandan refugees suddenly headed for home, considerably easing
the situation.
``Almost all of these have now returned to their home areas, where
they are being registered and receiving a settling package of assistance
that includes two months worth of food,'' State Department official
Phyllis Oakley testified at the hearing.
But 200,000 to 400,000 refugees remain unaccounted for, said Oakley,
who oversees refugee and population issues.
Oakley said the administration is focusing on finding refugees who
remain stranded in Zaire while helping Rwanda reintegrate the returnees.
In addition, it hopes to help Zairians displaced by fighting in their
own country, as well as refugees who need asylum in Burundi or Rwandan
refugees in neighboring Tanzania.
Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., accused the administration of being stuck
in a ``holding pattern'' in recent weeks.
``What's holding up a firm, strong response to this crisis?'' he
asked the officials at the hearing.
Richard Bogosian, State Department coordinator for Rwanda and
Burundi, argued that the situation had eased and more information was
needed before launching anything like a multinational force.
``We remain open-minded to an MNF operation with a clearly defined
mission. On the other hand, we do not want to commit to an operation
without knowing, for example, the target population, for the sake of
'doing something,''' he said.