REFUGEES FROM THE TOWN OF CALABAR, IN BIAFRA, THE BREAKAWAY EASTERN REGION OF NIGERIA, ARE BEING GIVEN FOOD AND SHELTER BY THE NIGERIAN RED CROSS IN LAGOS. ThE REFUGEES ARE MAINLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN LEFT HOMELESS WHEN FEDERAL TROOPS TOOK CALABAR FROM BIAFRAN CONTROL.

A MAJOR REFUGEE CENTRE NEAR LAGOS HAS BEEN SET UP AT ST. AGNES TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGE, AT IKEJA. ThE REFUGEES ARE BEING GIVEN FOOD, MEDICINE AND CLOTHING AT THE CENTRE, AND TENTS HAVE BEEN ERECTED IN THE COLLEGE'S GROUNDS TO PROVIDE EXTRA ACCOMMODATION.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE CIVIL WAR BEGAN THAT WOMEN AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO LAGOS. PREVIOUSLY TRAFFIC OUT OF BIAFRA INTO FEDERAL TERRITORY HAD BEEN CONFINED TO PRISONERS-OF-WAR, REBEL SOLDIERS AND CAPTURED ABLE-BODIES MEN.

MOST OF THE WOMEN AT THE REFUGEE CENTRES ARE WIDOWS, THEIR HUSBANDS THE VICTIMS OF FIGHTING IN DEFENCE OF CALABAR.

THE CHILDREN, MOST OF THEM FATHERLESS, ARE WELL CARED FOR, AND ARE GIVEN GIFTS AND TOYS TO PLAY WITH. ThEY HAVE A NURSES AT THE CENTRE, BUT ARE TAKEN REGULARLY TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.

THE WAR BETWEEN FEDERAL NIGERIA AND BREAKAWAY BIAFRA IS NOW INTO ITS SIXTH MONTH, AND SHOWS NO IMMEDIATE INDICATION OF ENDING. ThIS WEEK BIAFRA CLAIMED TO HAVE KILLED A "BRITISH MERCENARY", AND ALSO TO HAVE SHOT DOWN ONE OF NIGERIA'S SOVIET-SUPPLIED MIG JET FIGHTER AIRCRAFT, BOTH CLAIMS HAVE BEEN DENIED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.