FORMER Radcliffe resident Peter Chamberlain has been resting in Kenya after being at the heart of the refugee crisis in Zaire.

His brother, Radcliffe North council member Tim Chamberlain, this week told of the dramatic few days for the Oxfam worker caught in one of the world's biggest human tragedies.

In past weeks he has been at the centre of the aid operation to help thousands displaced by ethnic fighting in Zaire and Rwanda in central Africa.

At the weekend fighting broke through into the area where he and his Oxfam colleagues were working.

This week he spoke to his brother by phone after being evacuated from Goma, the site of the worst refugee problems.

Coun Chamberlain explained that all overseas aid workers had been advised to stay in their homes last week as fighting intensified around Goma.

"Peter was able to keep in contact with some of Oxfam's local staff by radio and was aware that the situation for both local Zairian staff and Rwandan Hutu refugees was deteriorating rapidly," said Coun Chamberlain.

On Thursday the ex-patriate aid workers were advised to gather in one of two compounds in Goma for safety.

Peter and a colleague were turned back by Zairian troops before they could even leave the grounds of their hotel and attempt to drive to a compound run by the Dutch chapter of the medical agency, Medicins Sans Frontiers.

"Peter and his colleague then tried to leave the grounds by another exit but were turned back by angry gun-wielding troops who made it clear that they could not take any vehicles with them," said Coun Chamberlain. "By this stage looting was rife around Goma, led by the Zairian army. Peter decided that the only way to get past the Zairian guards was on foot and so he carried what he could and left on foot to the MSF compound."

By Friday morning most of the Zairian troops had fled the area, and with them had gone any sense of order, Coun Chamberlain stated.

The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) told all aid workers to gather at their compound.

UN officials then negotiated with the Rwandan army and government, who had by that time taken control of the area.

After a relatively peaceful Friday night, Peter and his fellow aid workers were finally allowed out of Zaire by the Rwandan authorities.

A convoy took them the short distance to the Rwandan border, and then on to Kigali, the capital.

Said Coun Chamberlain: "Under the agreement with the Rwandan authorities to let the aid workers out of Zaire, they had to leave Rwandan territory the same day and so were transported to Kigali Airport, and from there they were flown to Nairobi.

Currently, Peter is resting in Nairobi while Oxfam and the rest of the world wait to find out whether the security situation is going to improve.

"Although exhausted by the whole ordeal Peter wants to get back as soon as possible," said Coun Chamberlain.

"Not only is it evident that the need for relief work is greater than ever, but he is also particularly concerned about the well-being of his team of local staff without whom launching any kind of relief effort will be impossible."

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