UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
DHA-GENEVA SITREP, NO.62

DHA-GENEVA SITREP, NO.62

                             RWANDA
                        CIVIL DISTURBANCE
            DHA-GENEVA DAILY INFORMATION REPORTNO. 62
                        16 November 1994
----------------------------------------------------------------
         Information for this report is provided by the
              UN Rwanda Emergency Office in Kigali
----------------------------------------------------------------
This sitrep is produced three times every week. The information is compiled from inputs by organizations working in Rwanda including UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, UNHCR, WHO, FAO, IOM, UNAMIR, USAID-DART, US-JTF and NGOs.

MAIN DEVELOPMENTS -----------------

On 11 November, the Government of Rwanda issued a press release objecting to sections of Security Council Resolution 995 concerning the establishment of International Tribunal Courts to try Rwandan war criminals. The Government has expressed concern that placing the Tribunal Courts outside Rwanda without Rwandese judges will serve to prevent the proper administration of justice. In addition, the Government objects to the absence of the death penalty and to the exclusion of genocidal acts prior to January 1994.

SECURITY
--------

On 11 November in Musebeya, north-west of Gikongoro, nine people were killed and at least 13 wounded during an incident at the local market in Musebeya between the RPA and the local population. Reports from UNAMIR indicate that a 10-men RPA patrol was driving through Musebeya, Gikongoro Prefecture, when it was surrounded by locals in the market place. The locals are said to have thrown stones and one grenade at the patrol who responded by firing warning shots. Some shots may have been fired into the crowd. The RPA patrol was subsequently disarmed by UNAMIR troops and escorted back to the RPA base for their own protection.

The RPA continues to conduct patrols and mount road blocks throughout the country.

ROBBERY

Incidents of robbery, including robbery with violence, continue to be reported and investigated by RPA, Human Rights and UNAMIR. There are also on-going investigations on reports of murder and disappearance of persons.

ARRESTS

There are increasing reports of arrests by RPA country-wide.

REFUGEES
--------

Some 4,000 Burundi refugees crossed into south-east Rwanda, east of Bugarama on 7 November. UNHCR is in the process of registering the new arrivals. More than 3,000 have already been registered. The refugees are presently concentrated around villages of Mpinga and villages on the foot-hills of the surrounding mountains. The group is from the Cibitoke Province in Burundi. The refugees say that they have fled an alleged Burundi army operation in which soldiers had invaded their villages firing and burning houses.

A camp for these refugees has not been established pending a meeting between UNHCR, the RPA and the prefect in the area to jointly identify a site for their settlement. UNHCR is providing basic assistance to the new arrivals.

There are approximately 250 people per day arriving by boat in Gisenyi, the majority of whom are old caseload refugees. An estimated 100 persons per day are arriving through the mountains on the border with Uganda. In response to the steady re-population in the north-west, NGOs have begun moving their services towards the communes.

GOMA

In response to high water supply costs as well as security concerns on the Zaire/Rwanda border, 39,000 refugees have recently been moved from the Goma camps further inland to Kahindu camp.

Local authorities in Zaire have forbidden all hunting and wood-cutting in the Goma area. Refugees are only allowed to collect trees that have already been felled.

BUKAVU

MSF-France has ceased working in the refugee camps in Bukavu and Goma. MSF completed a latrine construction programme in Goma, and will hand over its health programme activities in Bukavu to other NGOs.

This decision came in the wake of a 3 November statement by 15 NGOs working in Goma, among them MSF-Belgium, Holland and France, in which they warned that unless a solution was found to strengthen security in the camps they would have no choice but to pull-out of the country. MSF-F is, however, continuing its programmes in Lumasi camp (Tanzania).

BENACO

A WHO mission visited Benaco refugee camp in Tanzania after one cholera case was reported and confirmed. So far, no further cases have been reported. Local health personnel from WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, Red Cross and MSF-H are undertaking adequate preventive action.

IDPs
----

The local government in Gikongoro declared the Busanga camp officially closed as of 11 November, after the remaining camp structures were burned. Residents of the camps salvaged what they could and headed further south for Kaduha or Rukondo camps. Kaduha camp had an estimated 36,000 IDPs (as of 10 October) while Rukondo already had an estimated 39,500 internally displaced persons. On 10 November, approximately 20 RPA soldiers allegedly entered Musange camp and set fire to it. Seven people were killed and four wounded in the initial attempt to clear the camp, which had hosted an estimated 12,500 -15,000 people.

Following the 11 November incident in Musebeya camp (see section on security), 13 NGOs in the area agreed to cease work in the area for two days, 12-13 November, to allow time for investigation and consultation with authorities concerning the incident.

Returnee movements for IDPs returning to various parts of the countries continue. UNAMIR, however, reports a low turn-out of returnees. Out of 12 trucks detailed for Operation Homeward on 11 November, only 5 were used. The message by agitators in the camps that IDPs will be killed if they leave the camps or when they return home continues to have effect. Human rights monitors are steadily being deployed throughout the country. Their deployment may help build returnee confidence. Monitors are now present in Gitarama, Gisenyi, Gikongoro, Cyangugu, Kibuye and Butare.

GOVERNMENT
----------

On 13 November, the President of Rwanda, Pasteur Bizimungu, addressed a mass rally at Ruhango, in the Gitarama Prefecture. The issue of security in IDP camps was raised. Concern was also expressed by speakers at the meeting that UNAMIR forces were allegedly according protection to criminals in camps. At another meeting on 12 November at Ntongwe, Gitarama Prefecture, the President addressed a gathering of approximately 10,000 people at Ntongwe and appealed to all refugees to return home.

During the bi-weekly UN/NGO meeting in Kigali, the Chief of Cabinet in the Ministry of Rehabilitation reiterated the Government position with regard to flying of UN/NGO flags. No objection from UN/NGOs were raised and there was consensus that NGOs would discontinue flying flags on vehicles.

SECTORAL INFORMATION
--------------------

REHABILITATION

Government preparations for the Round Table conference scheduled to take place on 14-15 December are progressing and a draft document were to be presented by the working groups to the Prime Minister on 16 November.

HEALTH

During a weekly health meeting in Kigali, representatives from the Ministry of Health and medical NGOs discussed the current vaccination programme that has been established in Rwanda in coordination with UNICEF. The Ministry of Health distributed guidelines for its Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI). The guidelines outlined procedures for obtaining authorization from the Ministry and planning the programme with the Regional Medical Officer and the Regional EPI supervisor. In order to receive additional vaccines, NGOs carrying out EPI programmes must fill out a standard form which has been distributed by the government. Vaccines can be obtained directly from the Ministry of Health EPI store in Kacyiru, Kigali Ville Prefecture.

African Education Fund (AEF) reports that in Nyarabuye, in southeast Kibungo, there are hundreds of bodies in and around the church extending to the old hospital. WHO has recently been supporting the Ministry of Works and Social Affairs to dispose of body remains that are now surfacing in the Bicumbi area, located in eastern Kigali.

A WHO mission assessed the condition of neuropsychiatric hospitals in the country and provided a first report on problems related to mental health care after the war. As a first step, WHO will provide a consultant to train health personnel and reinforce the Ndera neuropsychiatric hospital in Kigali Prefecture.

NEEDS
-----

Caritas-Switzerland is interested in receiving specific requests on behalf of vulnerable groups in the Byumba area in order to begin a supplementary feeding programme in January 1995. Beneficiaries of this programme should be orphans, malnourished children, lactating mothers, elderly people, and hospital patients.

VISITORS
--------

Drs. Laux and Narula from UN Medical Services in New York travelled to Gisenyi and Goma on Monday, 14 November to be briefed on the medical services provided to UN personnel.

The first member of a UNDP-DDSMS assistance mission to the Ministry of Justice arrived in Kigali on 14 November. Other members of the mission are scheduled to arrive on 21 November.

Ms. Carmen de la Pena, Deputy Director-General for sub-Saharan African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Spain arrived in Kigali on Tuesday, 15 November, for a one-day visit. She was accompanied by the Ambassador of Spain to Kenya.

AVAILABLE REPORTS
-----------------

Ministry of Health/WHO/UNICEF have produced the 6th Epidemiological Bulletin. Copies of the data will be available on diskette in Lotus 1-2-3 and D-Base format from WHO from Wednesday, 16 November.

-------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

DHA CONTACT:  MS DEBORAH SAIDY
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



Message-Id: <199411251156.LAA07129@orion.sas.upenn.edu>
Date:Fri, 25 Nov 1994 03:52:05 -0800
From: "Arthur R. McGee" 
Subject:DHA-GENEVA SITREP VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL (fwd)

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

Previous Menu Home Page What's New Search Country Specific