Geneva -- In a regularly scheduled briefing May 21, the chief spokesman for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the one-day total for refugee movement from Kosovo into the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia reached its highest level in weeks. At the same time, Kris Janowski said, no new refugees made the passage into Albania -- raising speculation that Yugoslav forces have managed to close that escape route from the embattled province.

The newest refugees reported beatings, torture and food shortages inside Kosovo. They also said they had been living as displaced persons the last several weeks and had made earlier attempts to leave the province, only to be stopped by Serbian authorities. Kosovar men had to pay military and paramilitary forces to escape with their lives, the refugees said.

On other matters, Janowski said the UNHCR welcomes this week's announcement of a cease fire in Sierra Leone where 400,000 people have been forced from their homes in the last two years. The cease fire is expected to take effect May 24.

Following is a summary of the briefing:

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OFFICE OF THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES 21 May 1999

This is an uncorrected summary of what was said by the UNHCR spokesperson at today's Palais des Nations press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland. Direct quotes from the text can be attributed to the UNHCR spokesperson.

Kris Janowski - Public Information Section

1) - HC's remarks in Brussels 2) - Kosovar refugees 3) - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Montenegro 4) - Sierra Leonean ceasefire

This is an uncorrected summary of what was said by the UNHCR spokesperson at today's Palais des Nations press briefing.

1) HC's remarks in Brussels

Mrs. Ogata spoke yesterday at a Colloquium in Brussels on the "Global Refugee Crisis: A Challenge for the 21st Century." A summary of her remarks appeared yesterday in the International Herald Tribune. The complete version of her speech is available to correspondents, and will be posted today on UNHCR's website.

2) Kosovar refugees

FYR of Macedonia on Thursday saw the highest number of Kosovo refugees in weeks, with refugees telling stories of torture, beatings, extortion and shortages of food.

But while the exodus toward the FYR of Macedonia intensified, the flow of refugees toward Albania has almost completely dried up, indicating that the Yugoslav authorities might have practically severed that escape route.

2,300 people arrived by train in the FYR of Macedonia from Kosovo Polje, Pristina, Urosevac and Lipljan areas Thursday while more than 400 crossed by road through other border points.

Many of those arriving by train had been living as internally displaced people inside Kosovo for some time. UNHCR staff heard repeated reports, mirroring those collected in Albania by Human Rights Watch, that Kosovar men had to pay military and paramilitary forces to escape with their lives. The sum of 1,500 DM was mentioned. There were also numerous reports of beatings and torture.

The refugees said that different parts of Pristina have been cleaned out over the past few days. Refugees said groups of policemen entered the houses and forced everyone to move out and be gone by the end of the day.

One group of refugees came from Marevce (Marefc) near Lipljan. They had left their village once before to take refuge in nearby Bandulic (Banulle), but had gone back to Marevce. They said that on Wednesday a large Yugoslav army contingent had arrived in Marevce and the group had fled back to Bandulic and then to Lipljan where they took the train. They said not one of the formerly 300 inhabitants of Marevce is left there.

Another family was part of the group pushed back on 5 May from the border by FYR of Macedonia police. The Serbian authorities had placed them in empty houses near the border and told them that the other side had closed the border. They hoped to cross the border the next day but it was still closed. They said that four buses were filled that day (6 May) with Kosovars who hoped to cross into FYR of Macedonia, and sent to Albania instead. (This matches reports given to UNHCR staff in northern Albania by refugees who arrived on 6 May.)

On the 3rd day (7 May) the refugees took the train back to Kosovo Polje. They boarded the train again on 17 May and tried to cross the border that day, but the train was again sent back. Yesterday they finally managed to cross.

3) Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Montenegro

UNHCR continues its efforts to transfer Kosovar displaced people from the tense border region of Rozaje, on the border with Kosovo, to the coastal municipality of Ulcinj. Yesterday around 100 people were moved. Transfers will continue tomorrow.

UNHCR staff report a tense situation in Montenegro, particularly related to border crossings and establishment of military checkpoints restricting access to the border. There is particular concern that this will limit access of humanitarian personnel and supplies.

4) Sierra Leonean Cease-fire

UNHCR welcomed the announcement this week of a cease-fire between government forces and Revolutionary United Front rebels in Sierra Leone, where a military coup and wanton violence have driven more than 400,000 people into exile in the past two years.

The cease-fire is scheduled to take effect Monday, 24 May, and is to be followed by negotiations between the parties. UNHCR is cautiously hopeful that these will lead to a lasting peace.

The cease-fire accord also states that the warring parties will allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers to everyone in need. Aid agencies have been unable to reach much of the country due to fighting, with entire areas cut off for over a year. Government-backed forces regained control of the capital, Freetown, in late January.

During the High Commissioner's trip to the region in February, she told Sierra Leonean President Kabbah that the ability for UNHCR and other agencies to monitor the situation throughout the country was essential to any eventual return of refugees.

The extent of the conflict was seen again this week with another rebel attack on a Guinean village near the border, the fourth this year in the Forecariah area, during which two civilians were killed. There are several Sierra Leonean refugee camps near Forecariah, and Guineans worry that the presence of refugees in their country has attracted the rebel incursions.

UNHCR and Guinean authorities agreed recently to move the 30,000 refugees from Forecariah camps to sites further from the border. A transfer of 50,000 Sierra Leoneans from vulnerable camps in the Gueckedou area, also the target of rebel cross-border attacks, began in April. Almost 9,000 people have been moved to date.

There are more than 100,000 Sierra Leonean refugees in Liberia and another 300,000 in Guinea.

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