6 Tons of Supplies Sent to Contras Who Fled to Honduras
About six tons of U.S.-supplied food, clothing and tents have been sent to southern Honduras over the last 10 days to assist a large group of Contras and Nicaraguan civilians who have fled to that area, the State Department said Tuesday.
Spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley said the exodus reflects increased repression by the leftist Sandinista government and the dire condition of Contra units that have been left without any means of resupply inside Nicaragua.
“The blocking of delivery of humanitarian aid by the Sandinista regime has resulted in severe hunger, disease and injury to some resistance fighters,” she said.
According to reports from the border area, more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians arrived there last week from a central Nicaraguan combat zone. Another group, estimated at about 2,500, is said to be en route to the area.
The Contra leadership said the new arrivals joined about 8,000 combatants and 5,000 civilians.
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