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SUDAN / DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: ICRC REUNITES 11 CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES: Few among the many forgotten Congolese refugees living in the southern Sudanese town of Juba can imagine being able to return home one day. But for 11 children from two families that were split apart by the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this became a reality last week.
IRAN / IRAQ: 275 PRISONERS FREED: On 30 September, 275 Iraqi prisoners of war held in Iran were repatriated under the auspices of the ICRC.
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SUDAN / DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ICRC REUNITES 11 CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES
Few among the many forgotten Congolese refugees living in the southern Sudanese town of Juba can imagine being able to return home one day. But for 11 children from two families that were split apart by the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this became a reality last week. Eight brothers and sisters whose parents died a year ago were reunited with their uncle and three others with their father in Kisangani on 28September. It all began with an exchange of Red Cross messages earlier this year and visits to the children in Juba by UNHCR and ICRC tracing staff. The youngsters were then transferred to Khartoum, where they were met by a UNHCR team, and onwards to Nairobi, where they boarded an ICRC plane that brought them back to their country. After this long journey of 5,000 km, they can now begin a new life.
Further information: Juan Martinez, ICRC Geneva, tel.: ++4122 730 2281
IRAN / IRAQ 275 PRISONERS FREED
On 30 September, 275 Iraqi prisoners of war held in Iran were repatriated under the auspices of the ICRC. The operation, which took place at the Mundharieh/Khosravi checkpoint on the border between the two countries, was supervised by ICRC delegates who registered and checked the identities of the prisoners and held private interviews with each of them to ensure that they were going home of their own free will.
This event marks yet another step towards a final resolution of the humanitarian issues arising from the Iran/Iraq war, which ended in 1988. The fourth release operation carried out since April 1998, it brings to 6,675 the number of prisoners freed by both sides since that date.
Since the outbreak of the Iran/Iraq conflict in 1980, the ICRC has helped repatriate more than 95,000 prisoners of war held by both sides.
Further information: Suzanne Berger, ICRC Geneva, tel.: ++4122 730 2307
During the weekend of 9 - 10 October 1999, for all information please call the press officer on duty Chris Bowers, on ++ 41 22 779 33 22 or ++ 41 79 217 32 31