UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
RWANDA CIVIL DISTURBANCE DHA-GENEVA DAILY INFORMATION REPORT NO. 47 5 October 1994 --------------------------------------------------------------- Information for this report is provided by the UN Rwanda Emergency Office in Kigali ---------------------------------------------------------------
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DHA-GENEVA 94/0339
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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, IOM, UNAMIR, USAID-DART, US-JTF and NGOs.
GENERAL SUMMARY
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This situation in Rwanda is described by UNAMIR as calm, although it reports that recent explosions in Kigali which wounded a woman were from newly laid mines.
Oxfam and Save the Children-UK are providing a cash donation to the UN Human Rights Monitors to facilitate their deployment in the field.
An assessment mission is in the region to examine the fate of the Batwa pygmies during the war. The Batwa are Rwanda's third tribe.
SECURITY
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UNAMIR reports that there are newly-laid mines in Kigali. Its assessment of explosions on 3 October in which a woman was wounded and a vehicle hit found that the mines were probably newly-laid. All personnel are warned to be alert for explosive devices in areas which had been previously considered safe.
UNAMIR also reports suspected Interhamwe activity in the Northern section of Sector 2B (Southeast).
UNAMIR reports that the Gisenyi-Goma border post remains closed to UNAMIR personnel.
UNICEF is bringing in a demining assessment team from the Ethiopian Government to identify the needs for clearing mines from health centres and schools in Rwanda. The team is expected to arrive in the next two weeks. The mission will follow on from the demining work already undertaken by the Rwandese Government.
As of Monday 3 October, 1994, NGOs have still not returned to the Katale camp in Goma, following riots on 29 September. This is due to the continuing lack of security for relief workers.
UNICEF reports that relative calm has been restored in the Benaco camp in Tanzania. Tanzanian authorities released a former Prefect whom they had arrested last week. The arrest triggered riots involving 20,000 to 30,000 people.
REFUGEES/DISPLACED PERSONS
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In the regular convoy from Cyangugu to Kigali on 3 October, of the 1,362 people transported, only 120 were cleared by the RPA security check at the Kisi checkpoint because of a manpower shortage. The remainder of the returnees had to spend the night in the IOM, UNAMIR and WFP vehicles at the checkpoint before travelling on to Kigali the following day.
The latest UNHCR refugee figures, as of 19 September, are as follows:
COUNTRY OF ASYLUM COUNTRY OF ORIGIN TOTAL BURUNDI RWANDA --------------------------------------------------------------- Burundi - 277,000 277,000 Rwanda 6,000 - 6,000 Tanzania 40,000 510,000 550,000 Uganda - 10,000 10,000 Zaire/Bukavu - 450,000 Zaire/Uvira 145,900 32,200 628,100 Zaire/Goma - 850,000 850,000 --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL 191,900 2,129,200 2,321,100
Movement statistics on refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) carried by IOM/UNHCR/WFP from 26 September to 2 October are:
LOCATION TOTAL CUMULATIVE TOTAL ---------------------------------------------------------------- Refugees: Gisenyi-Ruhengeri 4,275 16,596 Ruhengeri-Kigali 1,215 4,294 Cyangugu-Butare-Gitarama-Kigali 513 4,210 Kigali-different destinations 742 2,850 Kibungo-Kigali 142 441 Other 1,264 1,586 ---------------------------------------------------------------- IDPs: Bugesera-Kigali 1,003 3,085 Kigali-different destinations 379 1,674 ---------------------------------------------------------------- TOTALS 9,533 34,736
HUMAN RIGHTS
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OXFAM and Save The Children-UK are providing USD 150,000 to the UN Human Rights Monitors to pay for vehicles and other logistic support in order to improve the provision of international assistance to their mission.
UNDP and USAID have contributed USD 245,000 and USD 750,000, respectively, for the recruitment of the Human Rights Operations Coordinator, 4 field officers and 25 monitors. The team is being assembled and should be fully operational very shortly.
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) are carrying out an assessment mission in the region to identify the fate of the estimated 29,000 Batwa pygmy people living in Rwanda before the war. The NGO estimates that up to 75 percent of Rwanda's third tribes were murdered. The mission, led by the Executive Secretary of the Association for the Promotion of Batwa, Mr. Charles Uwiragiye, will spend three months in the region.
WATER AND SANITATION
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The weekly Water and Sanitation meeting held at UNREO/UNDP was informed that the water supply provision in Kibungo is very poor. UNHCR and UNICEF are undertaking an assessment mission on Thursday, 6 October to examine options for improving the situation.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
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WFP reports that it has begun food and seed distribution in Butare. The agency is now providing food to a total of 160,000 IDPs in conjunction with CARE and AICF.
ICRC reports that it is planning seed distribution for the Gitarama and Kibungo Prefectures.
CARE reports that since July it has been distributing WFP food in 3 camps north of Gikongoro. The total pledge is 5,200 MTs of food for approximately 95,000 people.
CRS reports that between now and mid-November, they will be receiving 15,000 MTs of food for distribution. Also, the US organization Food for Peace has committed to send 46,000 MTs of food, 3,000 of which have already arrived in Kigali.
Two FAO veterinarians have arrived in Kigali to assess the livestock health situation. They are following up on work done by Action Nord Sud which shows that a large influx of cattle from Uganda has potentially brought livestock diseases that could seriously impact animal health in the region. 150,000 cattle have already crossed into Rwanda. Another 300,000 are expected to cross into the country in the near future. Based on an assessment carried out by a local veterinarian, UNHCR is providing initial drugs and veterinary supplies through the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Social Integration for the animals.
REHABILITATION
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UN-HABITAT has completed its assessment of infrastructure damage in Kigali and other urban centres. The mission has also made recommendations for urban reconstruction priorities. Mr. Heinz Kull, head of the mission, will be in Kigali on 5 and 65 October to discuss with the Government, UNDP and other potential participants the funding and implementation of HABITAT's proposed rehabilitation programme.
OTHER INFORMATION
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Daily UNAMIR Press Briefings will continue contrary to reports that it would be once weekly. Once a week, they will provide a military update of activities. The new UNAMIR spokesperson is Captain Stephane Grenier.
-------------------------------------------------------------- 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 From: "Arthur R. McGee"---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 5 Oct 94 11:41:02 -0700 From: CMONTENE%UNICC.BITNET@CEARN.cern.ch Subject: DHA-GENEVA SITREP VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
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