CAR CARRYING CZECHOSLOVAK FAMILY ARRIVING AT REFUGEE CAMP IN LILIENTHALGASSE, VIENNA; CARS AND TENTS; LUGGAGE; REFUGEES; AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL; REFUGEES IN DORMITORY; PEOPLE SLEEPING;REFUGEES EATING.




Initials RM/VS/MR/SIM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THERE ARE NOW AT LEAST 15,000 CZECHOSLOVAKIAN REFUGEES IN AUSTRIA AS A RESULT OF THE SOVIET INTERVENTION IN THEIR COUNTRY -- WITH 8,000 OF THEM HAVING ARRIVED ON FRIDAY ALONE. SOME 11,000 OF THE REFUGEES HAVE REGISTERED IN VIENNA, THE CAPITAL, WHERE MANY OF THEM ARE SETTLING DOWN TEMPORARILY IN CAMPS AND RECEIVING EMERGENCY AID FROM OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE SOURCES IN AUSTRIA AND FROM VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION.

THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES NOW IN VIENNA IS AN ALL-TIME RECORD. A SPECIAL ORGANISATION, THE ACTION COMMITTEE FOR CZECHOSLOVAK HELP, HAS BEEN SET UP TO COPE WITH THE PROBLEM. OTHER ASSISTANCE IS BEING GIVEN BY THE AUSTRIAN AND SWISS RED CROSS ORGANISATIONS, UNICEF -- THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION, AND VARIOUS OTHER GROUPS. SOME 15,000 EMERGENCY BEDS WERE QUICKLY PROVIDED, ALONG WITH MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, SHELTER AND FOOD.

FROM CANBERRA, IT'S REPORTED THAT AUSTRALIA IS DETERMINED TO GET AS MANY OF THE REFUGEES AS POSSIBLE TO MIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA. THE REFUGEES WILL BE GIVEN FREE PASSAGE TO AUSTRALIA, THE NOMINAL CHARGE OF 20 AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS (GBP9 STERLING) HAVING BEEN WAIVED, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING TO FLY IN MORE RECRUITING OFFICERS IN VIENNA, BONN AND BELGRADE IF NECESSARY TO COPE WITH ANY RUSH OF APPLICATIONS.

ALTHOUGH 650 CZECHOSLOVAK AND OTHER EAST EUROPEAN REFUGEES HAVE ALREADY ASKED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM IN VIENNA, THE CZECHOSLOVAK GOVERNMENT WANTS ALL REFUGEES TO RETURN. PRAGUE RADIO CALLED ON THE REFUGEES TO GO HOME BECAUSE, IT SAID, "EVERYONE IS NEEDED", AND SAID THERE WOULD BE NO REPRISALS AGAINST THOSE WHO'D SOUGHT ASYLUM IN VIENNA, THE CZECHOSLOVAK GOVERNMENT WANTS ALL REFUGEES TO RETURN. PRAGUE RADIO CALLED ON THE REFUGEES TO GO HOME BECAUSE, IT SAID, "EVERYONE IS NEEDED", AND THERE WOULD BE NO REPRISALS AGAINST THOSE WHO'D SOUGHT ASYLUM.