Date: Wed, 30 Aug 95 21:43:58 EDT

From: Emergency Information Administrator 

Subject: Zaire: Refugees  OFDA-02





U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT



BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)

OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)



ZAIRE - Refugees 



Fact Sheet #2                                     August 28, 1995



Note:  The last fact sheet was dated August 24, 1995.



Background:  Zaire continues to host more than 1 million Rwandan

refugees.  A majority of these refugees arrived over a five-day

period following the July 1994 victory in Rwanda by the Tutsi-

dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).  Military elements of

the former regime known as the ex-Armed Forces of Rwanda (ex-FAR)

as well as militia members are prevalent among the refugee

population.  Through intimidation, the ex-FAR has prevented many

Rwandan refugees from returning to Rwanda.  The ex-FAR allegedly

conducts military training near the camps and has pledged to

retake Rwanda by force, if necessary.  Credible sources speculate

openly about a potential invasion and feel that it could occur

prior to Nov. 1995 when the next rainy season commences.  



An arms embargo was placed on the rump government of Rwanda in

May 1994 by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to stem

the flow of arms during the civil war.  After winning the war in

July 1994, the RPF established a new Government of Rwanda (GOR),

which has been in place for over a year.  In light of this and

the threat from the former regime, the UNSC unanimously voted on

Aug. 16, 1995, to suspend the embargo for 1 year and and then

lift it.  The Government of Zaire (GOZ) did not support lifting

the arms embargo, citing its belief that the lifting would invite

attacks by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) on refugee camps in

Zaire and that the restrictions in the resolution were

insufficient to prevent misuse of the weapons.  The GOZ warned

that if the embargo were lifted, it would be justified in

abandoning its international obligation to provide a safe haven

for refugees.  On Aug. 19, the GOZ military began forcibly

repatriating Rwandan and Burundian refugees from camps in Goma,

Bukavu and Uvira.  



Numbers Affected:  As of August 2, the U. N. High Commissioner

for Refugees (UNHCR) reports there are approximately 1.1 million

Rwandan and 100,000 Burundian refugees in Zaire.  According to

UNHCR, the GOZ military forcibly repatriated 15,081 refugees from

Aug. 19-23.  It is estimated that approximately 80-85% are women,

children, and elderly.  Many of the returnees come from Mugunga

camp in Goma which has a large ex-FAR population.  UNHCR reports

that an additional 133,000 Rwandan and Burundian refugees left

their camps near Goma, Bukavu and Uvira and fled further into

Zaire to avoid being repatriated.  



Current Situation:  After the GOZ suspended its forced

repatriation program on Aug. 24, UNHCR renewed its voluntary

repatriation efforts on Aug. 25.  UNHCR reports that 267 Rwandans

from camps in the Goma area participated in its organized

repatriation program over the weekend.  Another 36 Rwandans

returned to Rwanda over the weekend without UNHCR's assistance.



Rwandan refugees in northern Burundi continue to utilize UNHCR's

organized, voluntary repatriation program.  Between 600-800

refugees are returning to Rwanda each week.  This program was in

effect prior to the GOZ's forced repatriation campaign and has

been unaffected by events in Zaire.



Diplomatic Efforts:  UNHCR High Commissioner Ogata will meet with

GOZ Prime Minister Kengo on Aug. 29 in Geneva to discuss a

program of voluntary repatriation.



USG Assistance:  U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda, David Rawson, as well

as representatives of USAID/Rwanda and USAID/Burundi have visited

key border sites and transit centers.  The State Department's

Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration has dispatched its

regional refugee coordinator to the scene.  The USG has not

expended additional humanitarian assistance as a result of the

GOZ's current actions.  However, previously-funded projects

continue to benefit needy refugees and internally displaced

persons in the Rwanda/Burundi region.  



U.S. Government (USG) Humanitarian Assistance for Rwanda and the

Rwanda Region:   

Total USG Assistance to Rwanda and the Rwanda

Regional Emergency FY 1994/1995 (to date). . . . . .$584,304,463 





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