U.N. Steps Up Relief Efforts

GOMA, Zaire —  The United Nations sent blankets, soap and water cans to aid stations along the road into Rwanda on Saturday in a stepped-up effort to help refugees straggling home.

In the crowded camps around Goma, aid workers resumed food distribution in one of the largest settlements at Katale, lifting a one-day suspension prompted by deadly clashes between refugees and pilfering Zairian soldiers.

U.N. crews took supplies to three aid stops operated by relief groups along the 40-mile road from the border to Ruhengeri, Rwanda. Today, convoys of 10 trucks are scheduled to begin ferrying refugees from Ruhengeri to the Rwandan capital, Kigali. U.N. officials in Kigali said they planned to send food out in the trucks.

The improving aid and transportation network is part of plans by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to encourage the return of the nearly 1 million Rwandans who fled to Zaire during the final days of the civil war last month.

There does not appear to be a major increase in the estimated 5,000 refugees crossing back home each day. So far, about 100,000 refugees have returned.