UNHCR SAYS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN BIHAC IS CRITICAL

ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - A UNHCR convoy with humanitarian supplies for a Moslem enclave in western Bosnia was stopped and searched this afternoon by rebel Croatian Serbs at Petrinja, UNPA North. Alemka Lisinksi, a spokeswoman for the UNHCR in Zagreb, said the convoy carrying 106 tonnes of food to Bihac, continued its journey towards Glina where it would spend the night. It was scheduled to travel to Cazin tomorrow morning. Self-styled Croatian Serb authorities in Knin have been persistently obstructing the delivery of relief aid to 180,000 civilians trapped in the Bihac enclave. In the last six months, UNPA Serbs have refused passage to 143 UNHCR convoys and have cleared only 13. Lisinski said the food situation in the area was critical. The 13 convoys that have reached Bihac since May have delivered a total of 1,000 tonnes of food. But the monthly needs of the civilian population total around 1,900 tonnes, the UNHCR said. (hina) jn sd vm 151748 MET dec 94