ANTIGUA: INCREASE OF REFUGEES ARRIVING FROM MONTSERRAT

(22 Aug 1997) English/Nat

Antigua is suffering an increasing tide of refugees fleeing the neighbouring volcanic island of Montserrat.

More than four thousand Montserratians have fled to Antigua, which itself has a population of just 65-thousand, since the Soufriere Hills volcano came to life two years ago.

Friends and family have welcomed the newcomers but Antigua warns the resources it needs to provide for the Montserratians are stretched to the limit.

This boat is the latest in an emergency fleet to arrive in the ports of Antigua.

More than four thousand Montserratians have fled here for shelter from volcanic activity which has devastated their Caribbean home in the last two years.

These new arrivals held out for as long as they dared in the shadow of the Soufriere Hills volcano which has, in recent months, taken lives and threatens a violent eruption.

But the harsh reality remains that Antigua, population 65-thousand, is ill equipped to accommodate such a surge of newcomers.

Friends and family have so far ensured Montserratians are catered for.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Why is there no refuge camp here? Because there is no need for a refuge camp. What is happening with Montserratians here is that they are being taken in by friends and family. Lots of Antiguans have opened their homes and accommodated Montserratians here. Also Montserratians have family here so some of them are living with their family."
SUPER CAPTION: Candia Williams, from Montserrat

But it is, and will continue to be, a traumatic time for the fleeing islanders.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Why am I leaving Montserrat? Because I can't take the culture of the volcano no more."
SUPER CAPTION: Abraham, from Montserrat

On Friday, it was announced Britain has agreed to help Antigua cope with refugees from the devastated British colony.

Antiguan High Commissioner Ronald Sanders had appealed to Britain's International Development Secretary Clare Short for help and reported a favourable response.

He stressed the need for long term assistance in matters of housing and health care were urgent.

Less than half of Montserrat's original population of 11-thousand people remains on the island.

Those who have chosen to remain, many of them unsatisfied by the proposed resettlement packages, live in a rapidly shrinking safe zone in the north of the island.

Many of those who leave insist their departure is temporary.

UPSOUND: (English) VOXPOP
"I'm not evacuating."

Increasingly violent eruptions, which in June left 19 people dead, have destroyed the capital, Plymouth.

Last weekend Salem, the largest town still inhabited, was placed off-limits.

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