SECRETARY-GENERAL REGRETS ZAIRE'S DECISION TO EXPEL INTERNATIONAL AID WORKERS
Press Release
SG/SM/6177
SECRETARY-GENERAL REGRETS ZAIRE'S DECISION TO EXPEL INTERNATIONAL AID WORKERS
19970307 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General notes with regret the decision taken by the Government of Zaire on 4 March to expel from Zaire those international aid workers, who had been relocated from Kisangani to Kinshasa on 1 March owing to a deteriorating security situation.
He wishes to underscore that the aim of humanitarian assistance is to provide relief to all those in need, wherever there is a need, and to do so without jeopardizing the safety and security of relief personnel. It is therefore his expectation that, security conditions permitting, those humanitarian workers who wish to do so, will return to resume their work from Kisangani.
The Secretary-General, having communicated his concerns to Prime Minister Kengo wa Dondo, is sanguine that the Government of Zaire will show understanding for the situation of humanitarian workers in a dangerous security environment, and therefore refrain from implementing its decision to expel them from Zaire.
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