Hopes high on refugees

Press, 11 September 1989, Page 10

Hopes high on refugees

NZPA-Reuter * Budapest More than 6000 East German refugees are waiting in packed Hungarian tent-camps for an exodus to the West which appears to be imminent. Relief workers organised excursions to stave off increasing boredom in the camps while refugees continued to arrive by car and on foot, some dressed for holidays and others soaking wet after swimming the river Danube. Statements by the Hungarian and West German governments late last week seemed to indicate an organised transit through Austria to West Germany could start within a few days. Previously, officials had talked of as much as a six-week wait. Refugees said no more money was being handed out in Budapest camps at the week-end — another sign that departure was imminent. Camp organisers said they had no idea how the mass transit would be arranged, how long it would take, or whether some refugees would be allowed to take their cars. It was also unclear what would happen if some of the estimated 100,000 East Germans still on holiday in Hungary decided to join the exodus at the last minute. The delay appeared to have been caused by Hungary’s concern to find a solution palatable to its Warsaw Pact ally East Germany, which has demanded that its citizens return home.