(5 May 1999) English/Nat
Macedonia suddenly closed its border on Wednesday and there were indications that
authorities had pushed back ethnic Albanian refugees into Kosovo.
The U-N-H-C-R has expressed extreme concern at this latest development, which follows an earlier influx of refugees from previously unaffected villages in Kosovo, appearing to indicate that the Serb policy of ethnic cleansing is spreading.
The Macedonian border crossing at Blace was deserted late on Wednesday afternoon.
A U-N-H-C-R official said that at around 5:00 p.m. (1500 GMT), the Macedonian authorities had suddenly closed it, trapping hundreds and possibly thousands of refugees just across the border in Kosovo.
Paula Ghedini said the U-N had no estimate of how many refugees may be blocked by the closing.
Macedonia is struggling to cope with some 210-thousand refugees, about one tenth of the country's normal 2.1 (m) million population.
The government threw international aid groups into a panic this week by suggesting it could close the border with Yugoslavia.
These are the last lucky few who made it across the border on Wednesday.
Those who didn't are believed to be stuck in an area running parallel to a field where tens of thousands were trapped in late March.
Ghedini said the U-N refugee agency had some presence in the area and they could deliver water to the people, but that there was no possibility of providing shelter.
Temperatures dropped Wednesday and there were fears darkness would bring a raw
night.
U-N-H-C-R spokesperson Paula Ghedini said the U-N was trying to verify the situation.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Essentially what we've heard so far is that the border has been closed at Blace. We're not exactly sure if this is permanent or temporary. Indications are that there may have been some people that have been pushed back into Serbia. We have two field teams in the no-man's land right now with the refugees, trying to make sure that they are not moved in any way, and we are still waiting for official confirmation from the government in Skopje as to whether or not this is a policy decision that will be permanent."
SUPER CAPTION: Paula Ghedini, UNHCR spokeswoman
Ghedini said the move went against assurances previously offered by the Macedonian authorities.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"However, we had been given all full assurances from the highest level of government that this border would always remain open."
SUPER CAPTION: Paula Ghedini, UNHCR spokeswoman
The closure followed an earlier influx of some 2-thousand Kosovar refugees across the border here at Blace.
In this instance U-N-H-C-R officials said that, significantly, the new arrivals were from the previously unaffected villages of Glogovc and Obilc.
This appears to indicate the Serb policy of ethnic cleansing is spreading.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It does appear that the latest influx from Glogovc and Obilc is indeed showing that the villages are being systematically emptied. Its the first time we've seen villagers from this area and they are telling us that police are going door to door in every village
telling people to get on buses and leave and if they don't leave immediately they will not want to see what happens the next day."
SUPER CAPTION: Paula Ghedini, UNHCR spokeswoman
Ghedini said the agency's main concern was that the move was entirely voluntary and that people are allowed to keep their families intact.
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