| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
RWANDA
CIVIL DISTURBANCE
DHA-GENEVA DAILY INFORMATION REPORT NO. 36
6 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 94/0285
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This Sitrep is produced three times every week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The information is compiled from inputs by organisations working in Rwanda including UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, WHO, FAO, IOM, UNAMIR, US-JTF and NGOs. This document is intended to represent the best available information as of 12h00 5 September 1994.
GENERAL SUMMARY
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- The overall situation is calm although there are increasing reports of bandit activity.
- UN worker murdered in Gikongoro; Heads of Agencieshave asked for more protection.
- There is increasing concern about the need to register all returnees before transporting them home.
- The humanitarian focus starts to move from emergency relief to community-based projects in the South East.
SECURITY
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Although the country is regarded as secure, there are increasing reports of banditry, especially in Sector 4. A WFP local staff worker and 2 members of his family were murdered in Gikongoro on Friday 2 September. At a Heads of Agencies' meeting on 5 September, all agreed that UNAMIR should strengthen the protection of humanitarian staff. UNHCR has requested that UNAMIR provides armed escorts to all convoys, armed guards for the UNHCR staff house and a security channel on the radio. All UN Agencies have been asked to provide a list of personnel to UNDP and to update security and evacuation plans.
In the South West, UNAMIR have given the Gendarmerie established by the French forces seven days to surrender their weapons as from 3 September. Those wishing to join the new Genderarmerie will be escorted to Kigali for training. 177 weapons have been handed in as of 5 September.
The RPA will have a liaison officer seconded to UNAMIR forces in Cyangugu as from Monday 5 September.
WORLD BANK GRANT
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The USD 20 million granted by the World Bank last week for the rehabilitation projects has been divided among the following international agencies, reflecting the mandates for humanitarian and rehabilitation action:
UNICEF: USD 10.5 million for water, health and nutrition
projects including the rehabilitation of 150 health
centres, distribution of seeds, distribution of
high-protein biscuits and rehabilitation of 11 water
treatment centres.
UNHCR: USD 4 million for health, repatriation, and
rehabilitation projects.
FAO: USD 4 million for seed and agriculture projects.
WHO: USD 1.5 million for three epidemiological projects.
REPATRIATION
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With some 700-800 refugees and displaced people leaving Cyangugu every day, the importance of registration has been stressed by all UNREO field offices. It is estimated that there are some 482,000 displaced persons within the South West region.
There is increasing concern that all returnee operation need to register the people travelling back. UNHCR register all returnees picked up between Ruhengeri and Gisenyi; however, some convoys operating in the South West have not registered their returnees.
There have been reports that several people have been taken from trucks at RPA checkpoints and taken away. With no formal registration system, there is no way of knowing who has been arrested.
The UNREO Field Office in Cyangugu reports that the following breakdown of responsibility has been agreed locally as a way to improve the efficiency and safety of returnee operations in sector 4:
PHASE OF RETURNEE PROGRAMME AGENCY RESPONSIBLE
Registration of returnees UNHCR Transport of returnees IOM/UNAMIR/UNHCR/IRC Security UNAMIR Food and Water ICRC Medical treatment MSF Reception of returnees UNHCR
The convoys will travel from Cyangugu to Butare where the returnees will be provided with food, water and blankets for an overnight rest before continuing on to Kigali the next day. People will be returned to several towns and villages along the route.
Discussions are continuing to develop an effective country-wide repatriation programme.
REHABILITATION
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The Rwandese Government held a rally in Butare on 3 September. The speeches focused on unity, reconciliation, security and the need for justice. The crowd of 7,000 were assessed as being positive.
UNDP are starting two rehabilitation programmes; one lasting six months and the other for two years. They will have a nationwide and all-sector focus. At the moment they are looking to recruit 20 UNVs to help in the management of the airport with a long term view of handing over to a bilateral agency. The International Civil Aviation Organisation is assisting in recruitment. UNDP is also focusing on providing equipment such as vehicles and computers to ministries.
AGRICULTURE
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Husbandry is taking over the coordination of seed distribution activities in the country. At a Seeds and Tools meeting on 3 September the Government released their plan of action for rehabilitation of the agricultural industry, noting that the major problem is the lack of capacity to distribute seeds. Although seeds are now arriving in the country, the distribution network needs to be strengthened urgently. Caritas announced that they will be receiving their distribution network. It was recommended that seed distribution is combined with food distribution to ensure that the seeds are not consumed.
WATER SUPPLY
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Butare is still without running water; the UNREO Field Office reports that the waterpump is broken and that even if it were fixed, the pumping station needs 10 operators and 15 technicians. The local authorities are responsible for finding suitably qualified staff. UNICEF has agreed to pay the initial salaries before handling over responsibility to the Government. Until the station is operational, UNICEF and UNHCR will try to provide water tankers. It was noted that a mass distribution system will not be possible, so each NGO must identify their requirements.
ADMINISTRATION
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A meeting of administrators held last week noted that the Ministry of Finance is now able to register vehicles. Unregistered vehicles will not be able to enter the country. SCF-UK reports that visas, costing USD 20, are available from the Ministry of Interior Affairs. The visas are valid for 15 days but following this initial period an application can be made for a Visa de Voyage. This is valid for up to six months and costs 4,000 Rwandese Francs. The applications needs to include the completed form, a letter of introduction to the Minister of Interior Affairs, passport and 2 photos. A Visa de Sejour is available for longer periods.
NORTH EAST
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An UNHCR mission to Nagarama from 29-30 August reached the conclusion that relief assistance is required by 60-70,000 returnees. In the short-term household items will be distributed to 8,500 families (60-70,000 people) and medical equipment will be provided to local health centres. In the longer term community based assistance will be given to help improve the health, water, education and community services.
SOUTH EAST
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IMC reports that they are supporting 11 health centres in the Kibungo Prefecture. Significant numbers of people are returning to this area (the population has risen from 32,000-112,000 in the last few weeks). Some of those returning are long term refugees from Burundi. The health centres are becoming increasingly stretched, particularly with the lack of trained local staff.
IMC reports that most of the fields in Kibungo Prefecture are laden with rotting crops. They stressed that workers in profession such as teaching will be among the high risk category because they will have no way of finding food in the coming months.
ICRC reports that they have food stocks in Ngara intended for Rwanda. They are distributing food to the displaced population in Kibungo Prefecture.
UNHCR reports that the outflow from Rwanda into Tanzania has been continuous in the last few weeks. At its peak, 12,000 people crossed in one week.
The low coverage by NGOs of the South East could become a problem in the near future if people decide to return to this area. UNREO is encouraging NGOs and UN Agencies to focus assistance towards Kibungo, Bugesera, Butare and Girarama. An UNREO assessment team will be operating in the region later this week.
SOUTH WEST
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The UNREO Field Office in Butare reports that some 4,000 refugees from Burundi moved into Nyakizo commune over the weekend of 3-4 September. UNHCR are trying to support their immediate needs.
MSF will be starting their meningitis vaccination programme and Cyanika camp on 7 September. The programme will last for 5 days and will cover 140,000 people within a 5 km radius of Cyanika, Gikongoro and Kiraro.
People have been observed to be moving from Kibuye to Gikongoro. They are reportedly returning from Lake Kivu to Kibuye.
NORTH WEST
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CARE reported that intense screening of returnees took place on 2 September in Gisenyi. House searches also took place. This reduced the numbers of people returning. By 2 p.m. the situation returned to normal.
OTHER INFORMATION
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Informal exchange rates as of 4 September:
Kigali USD 1 = RwF 350-370
Cyangugu USD 1 = RwF 370-450
Butare USD 1 = RwF 250-300
The UNREO Field Office in Cyangugu reports that as a result of increased costs in Cyangugu, salaries are tending to be two or three times higher than in Kigali.
Gus Speth, Under-Secretary General of UNDP, visits the region from 10-13 September.
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DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA