(24 Feb 1997) French/Nat
Zaire's leaders have ruled out negotiations with rebels in the east, despite the rebel forces' advance on the country's third-largest city, Kisangani.
Government officials in the Zairian capital, Kinshasa, conceded that rebels are gaining ground in their push toward the government's northeast military headquarters.
Refugee workers fear that the advancing army may target the large Hutu refugee camp at Tingi-Tingi, spelling a humanitarian catastrophe.
A D-C-3 support aircraft lands at the Tingi-Tingi camp.
Refugee workers at this outpost in Eastern Zaire are desperately flying in essential food and medical aid.
They're attempting to save the lives of a 160-thousand refugees who have fled the fighting in the east.
Most of those seeking shelter in the camp are Rwandan Hutus who have been on the road since the genocide in 1994 which claimed the lives of half a (m) million Rwandan Tutsis.
They can't return home for fear of reprisals by the Tutsi-led government in Rwanda.
But they're not safe here either.
The advancing Tutsi rebels get closer to the refugee camp every day, as they march towards the city of Kisangani, where the Zaire government has its military headquarters in the northeast.
If they capture the city, it will be the biggest victory yet in the rebels' 5-month-old uprising.
The Tingi-Tingi camp is only 150 miles southeast of Kisangani.
Rebel leader Laurent Kabila alleges Zaire's government has armed former Rwandan Hutu soldiers and militiamen among the refugees at the camp.
This could be excuse enough for a full scale attack on the thousands of starving innocent Hutus - including many women and children.
Doctor Tchumah Bajam of the World Food programme says that about 600 tonnes of grain are needed every week to keep the refugees alive.
So far they are meeting that goal.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"we need about 600 tonnes for 160-thousand refugees, 120-thousand for Tingi Tingi and 40-thousand for Amisi, this week we have achieved our goal we have managed to transport all of it, we are now distributing a one week ration of 1700 Kilo calories "
SUPERCAPTION: Doctor Tchumah Bajam, World Food Programme
Meanwhile international efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table in Cape Town, South Africa, appear to have stalled.
If an agreement is reached to cease hostilities, it may come too late for the refugees at Tingi-Tingi.
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