U.S. will take 3500 Havana refugees

Press, 16 April 1980, Page 9

U.S. will take 3500 Havana refugees

NZPA-Reuter Havana The United States has agreed to accept 3500 of the refugees jammed into the Peruvian Embassy in Havana, as officials from Lima and President Fidel Castro’s Government argue over which ones should be allowed to go to Peru. More than 10,000 refugees have been jammed into the Peruvian Embassy compound , for the last week in appalling conditions. Several i South American countries, ; Spain, and the United States have all said they will accept some of them. Peru and Cuba have been arguing over which of the refugese should be included in the 1000 Lima has agreed to accept President Castro’s Government insists that those who have been granted safe-con-

duct passes and passports should be allowed to be first. Peruvian officials are adamant that priority should be given to the sick and to families , with children.

Peruvian diplomats said a total of 10,875 people had been. crowded into the compound. Of these, some 4500 have left under a system of safeconduct passes and passports arranged by the Cuban authorities. But the 6000 or so still packed into the mission’s grounds are living in appalling conditions. A Peruvian journalist who managed to get into the grounds last week said the area was covered with human excrement, despite the installation of latrines, and the stench carried for blocks around the embassy.

The already bad conditions have been aggravated by a day of torrential rain.

In Washington the Presidential press secretary, Mr Jody Powell, said President Carter was appealing to other countries to do their share in coping with the problem.

Mr Powell said President Carter was deeply concerned about the Cubans’ freedom and safety. The United States fully supported efforts to resolve the problem by Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, the five members of the Andean Pact, he added. Mr Powell said Cuba had not co-operated in a reasonable manner with the Peruvian Government or international organisations trying to help the refugees.