THE UNITED NATIONS ARE CARRYING OUT A MASS REPATRIATION OF BALUBA TRIBESMEN IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THE VAST UN-SUPERVISED REFUGEE CAMP ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ELISABETHVILLE, KATANGA. ON MAY 25, A SPECIAL TRAIN BROUGHT 1,396 OF THESE REFUGEES TO THE UN TRANSIT CAMP AT KAMINA.

FROM KAMINA THE REFUGEES WERE BEING FLOWN - AT THE RATE OF 500 A DAY - ON TO LULUABORG, IN KASAI PROVINCE, WHERE UN LORRIES RETURN THEM TO THEIR VILLAGES.

THERE WERE ABOUT 40,000 REFUGEES IN THE ELISABETHVILLE CAMP, LIVING IN SQUALID CONDITIONS. WHEN MR. ROBERT GARDINER VISITED THERE EARLY THIS MONTH HE TOLD REFUGEE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE UN WOULD REPATRIATE TO KASAI PROVINCE THOSE REFUGEES OF KASAI ORIGIN WHO WISH TO RETURN THERE. THE CAMP WAS TO BE LIQUIDATED.