| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
RWANDA
CIVIL DISTURBANCE
DHA-GENEVA DAILY INFORMATION REPORT NO. 35
3 SEPTEMBER 1994
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Information for this report is provided by the
UN Rwanda Emergency Office in Kigali
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DHA-GENEVA 94/0284
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This sitrep is produced three times every week. The information is compiled from inputs of organizations working in Rwanda, including UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, WHO, IOM UNAMIR, US-JTF and NGOs. This document is intended to represent the best available information as of 1200 GMT 2 September 1994.
GENERAL SUMMARY
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The World Bank has agreed to a US$ 20m grant for rehabilitation activities in Rwanda. Repatriations are continuing in the North West and South West. Security in camps continues to deteriorate.
UNAMIR has established a rapid reaction force to combat increasing levels of banditry in Kigali.
A CARE assessment of the Gikongora area highlighted the long-term environmental damage resulting from the massive influx of displaced persons.
UNICEF estimates that there are over 100,000 unaccompanied children in Rwanda and neighbouring countries.
WORLD BANK SUPPORT
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The World Bank has agreed to provide a US$ 20m grant for rehabilitation activities in Rwanda. US$ 10.5m has been allocated to UNICEF projects (US$ 4.5m for health, US$ 3m for water and sanitation and US$ 3m for nutrition) and the rest has been divided up among international agencies. This precedent-setting decision by the World Bank to provide a grant rather than a loan, reflects the unique situation of Rwanda.
REPATRIATION
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In the North West area USAID report that since the beginning of the crisis until 28 August, some 55,017 refugees returned to Rwanda through the official check-point at Gisenyi-Goma. At the UNHCR monitoring points near the Kibumba camp, over 13,000 refugees returned to Rwanda during the period 18-24 August, averaging approximately 1,500 per day. However, there is still significant opposition to repatriation in the camps and UNHCR/IOM are only repatriating spontaneous returnees at this stage.
In the South West the UNREO Field Office at Cyangugu reports a steady decline in the number of people crossing from Rwanda into Zaire. On 31 August just 150 crossed to Zaire via the bridges designated Rusizi I and II while 749 crossed from Zaire back into Rwanda. This is a significant decline over the period of the last week. The UNREO Field Office reports that there are now only approximately 200 people waiting between the two bridges.
UNHCR are stockpiling non-food items in the region as a contingency for a massive movement of refugees back into the country. Provisions for some 700,000 can be directed to anywhere in the country should the need arise. UNHCR is also preparing contingency plans for a deterioration in Burundi.
The UNREO strategy to shift the emphasis from emergency relief to repatriation has been accepted by the international humanitarian community operating in the country. An informal working group has been established to determine priorities. The aim is to capitalize on the declining numbers of new refugees and shift attention to practical solutions that will encourage the internally displaced to return to their homelands. This would initially focus on the displaced persons in the South West area by supporting community-based rehabilitation programmes in the South East around Butare and Kibungo. If a realistic incentive to return can be provided to encourage returnees from among displaced populations, the emphasis would then shift to encouraging refugees to return. A series of assessment missions will be carried out next week to identify the major issues and gaps in humanitarian coverage.
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
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The first national assessment mission by UNICEF, working with NGOs and the Ministry of Rehabilitation, estimated that there could be over 100,000 unaccompanied children in and around Rwanda. The survey estimates that there are between 50,000-75,000 in Rwanda, 10,000 in Goma, 10,000 in Bukavu, 10,000 in Ngara and 3,000 in Uganda.
HUMAN RIGHTS
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The Commission of Experts have continued their mission to Rwanda, meeting with Government, UN and diplomatic representatives and potential witnesses to massacres. Their report on the way forward is expected with four months.
However a strategy paper produced by an informal working group of NGOs attacked the international response to human rights issues as being entirely inadequate. They highlight that the Commission of Experts is "seriously lacking the resources, personnel and expertise needed to produce a satisfactory inquiry" and call for an immediate mobilization of international resources and expertise that could investigate the deaths of perhaps 1 million people.
SECURITY
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MSF Holland reported that a female refugee was hacked to death at a camp in Goma on 29 August because she told a group of refugees that she had returned to Kigali and reported that conditions were good. USAID DART report that in a separate incident in Kituko camp (near Mugunga camp at Goma), a person was murdered for encouraging refugees to return home. NGOs reported to the DART assessment team that incidents occur daily where a refugee planning a trip to Rwanda is harassed by a crowd. Usually the person has to seek refuge in an NGO tent which leads the mob to surround the tent and demand that the NGO hand him or her over. While many incidents are defused, the DART speculate that many such incidents go unreported.
On 30 August, a man was stoned to death in a camp at Hongo near Bukavu.
This continued deterioration in security is causing some NGOs to rethink their support of activities in the Goma area, particularly in the Mugunga camps which are laden with FAR militia.
FOOD AND LOGISTICS
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At a meeting held on 31 August, a Government representative was informed of the dissatisfaction of many NGOs who transport humanitarian supplies into the country and are now being charged US$ 152 per truck plus US$ 20 for a visa for the driver. The NGOs said this effectively taxed humanitarian relief. The Government representative promised to investigate and report by Friday 2 September.
The US Forces are ending their mission in Rwanda, which includes the monitoring of the reception and unloading of aircraft and the marshalling yards at the airport. From now on ODA will be responsible for the handling of aircraft and UNHCR/UNAMIR will monitor the marshalling yard operations.
NORTH WEST
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The USAID DART reports that in Goma as of 26 August, there were only 2,413 temporary and 497 semi-permanent latrine drop-holes in the three major camps at Katale, Kibumba and Mugunga. Based on a population estimate of some 575,000 refugees, this represents an average of 197 persons per drop-hole. UNHCR aim to have a maximum of 20-50 persons per latrine drop-hole upon completion of its sanitation programme. Heavy equipment is being provided by ActionAid to help in the site improvement programme.
SOUTH WEST
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A CARE food Security assessment in Gikongoro prefecture (27-29 August) found that resident farming households in both North and South Gikongoro have been forced to share their resources with a very large and growing displaced population. They found that approximately 80 percent of the North Gikongoro population has fled the area, the vast majority moving to Cyangugu and Zaire. The situation is reversed in South Gikongoro where 80-90 percent of the people have felt secure enough to remain in their homes.
Despite food shortages and high market prices, the assessment team found that the most damaging long term legacy of the massive influx of displaced people will be the devastation of the habitat. Rapid deforestation of the Kibeho-Mubuga-Munini region will result in long-term erosion, loss of top-soil and ever-declining agricultural production.
UNAMIR report that Nyanishaba camp, 5km NW of Kibuye, contains approximately 800 people serviced by two doctors. The doctors have no medicines. The UNAMIR team also report that there is no food in the camp and no NGO presence. Any NGO/Agency able to provide assistance would be welcomed.
KIGALI
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There have been increasing reports of armed bandit activity within the city; as a response UNAMIR have established a 24-hour rapid reaction force (RRF) of ten soldiers who will respond to any reports of intrusion onto UNAMIR or NGO property. The RRF can be contacted via UNREO Base during working hours or Mama Papa 1 (24 hours). There is no available direct radio contact with the unit. A meeting on water supplies in the city heard that the water plant, which can produce 20,000 cubic metres of water per day, is currently only providing 900 cubic metres because of insufficient power supply. This allows water to only reach low altitude buildings. UNICEF reported that several hospitals and orphanages often experience water shortages of up to several days. GTZ is carrying out a survey of the Kigali water pipeline system.
OTHER INFORMATION
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Zairian vulcanologists monitoring the lava lake activity within Nyirangongo volcano report that as of 27 August, there is no imminent threat of eruption but recommended that additional monitoring equipment placed on the major fault line between the volcano and Goma would greatly assist preparedness measures.
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DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA
Desk Officers: Deborah Saidy and Michael Gaouette
Direct Telephone: 788.7020 / 788.7019
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY - Telephone: (41 22) 917.2010
Press to contact: Ms Mounira Skandrani
Ms Skandrani Direct Telephone: (41 22) 917.3114
Telex: 414242 DHA CH
Fax: (41 22) 917.0023
Electronic Mail: DIALCOM 141 : DHAGVA
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Art McGee [amcgee@netcom.com]
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