1.
SV Wreckage on road (2 shots)
0.08

2.
GV Wounded soldiers along road
0.16

3.
GV Refugees fleeing (3 shots)
0.38

4.
GV Rice carried on bicycle (2 shots)
0.51

5.
GV Man loading bag of rice on bicycle
0.58

6.
GV Man with bicycle falls down
1.05

7.
GV Man with bicycle PAN TO rice left behind (2 shots)
1.20



Initials CL/0028 CL/0038



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Military action in Long Khanh Province, north-east of Saigon in South Vietnam, is continuing to add scores of refugees almost daily to the six-thousand made homeless since fighting broke out in the area two weeks ago.

In three provinces in this area - about 80 miles (120 kms) from Saigon - communist pressure is on the South Vietnamese Army's 3rd Corps. It is said to be aimed at cutting off southern provinces and Saigon control from the central region of South Vietnam.

To the north of the fleeing refugees, two battalions of the 3rd Corps are under siege by communist units. Wounded South Vietnamese troops, trying to break through the communist cordon, have joined the refugees heading south.

Some refugees are able to strap a few possessions to their bicycles. Others are forced to travel empty-handed, leaving everything behind.

Following the outbreak of fighting in Long Khanh Province Vietnamese Red Cross officials distributed five litres of rice to every refugee family in the area.

Forced to leave their buffaloes and carts behind, the refugees were faced with inadequate means of getting the rice out with them. Some succeeded, but others failed in the panic of evacuation.