ICRC CONCERNED OVER SITUATION IN NEWLY-LIBERATED CROATIAN AREAS

ZAGREB, Aug 2 (Hina) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) remains deeply concerned that one year after 'Operation Storm' there has been little improvement regarding the security situation for Serb minorities living in the former sectors north and south in Croatia, the ICRC said on Friday in a statement. Approximately 10,000 people remained in the region after the offensive by Craotian forces which re-took the sectors in August 1995. The ICRC maintains eight mobile teams operating out of Knin and Vojnic whose primary role is to make daily tours of the villages in the region in order to check on the well-being of the minority population and to report any violations or abuses committed against them to the local and national authorities. As the only organisation carrying out this kind of protection work, the ICRC is particularly concerned about the situation of more than 3,500 of the Serb remainees scattered throughout 600 remote villages. They not only live in appalling conditions but many have been victims of continuing criminal attacks and abuses, causing considerable fear and anxiety as they struggle with daily life, the statement said. (hina) as 022028 MET aug 96