Danish workers fear for their lives over Caprivi crisis

Danish aid workers in Nambia are living in fear of their lives following threatening phone calls and armed break-ins into some of their homes, an official of the Danish aid organisation IBI/WUS-Denmark told IRIN on Wednesday. The official said the threats are apparently linked to the fact that Denmark has provided asylum to Mishake Muyongo, the leader of the secessionist group of Caprivians who last week launched armed attacks on a broadcasting centre, a police installation and a military base in Katima Mulilo, the capital of northeast Nambia's remote Caprivi Strip. According to the official, the threats have included armed break ins into the homes of some of the aid organisation's staff members as well as threatening phone calls. "The situation is serious, we are dealing with different kinds of threats and acts of intimidation against staff members on a daily basis," the official said. The official said IBIS/WUS-Denmark, which has about 40 Danish nationals based in the country, has provided about US $66 million in development aid to Namibia since it gained indpendence from South Africa in 1990. "Our projects include the building of schools, urban and rural development as well as the teaching of science subjects," said the official. If the threats and intimidation continued, he added, some staff might consider leaving the country for their own safety.