UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
DHA-Geneva Sitrep Via Electronic Mail No. 48

DHA-Geneva Sitrep Via Electronic Mail No. 48

                             RWANDA
                        CIVIL DISTURBANCE
           DHA-GENEVA DAILY INFORMATION REPORT NO. 48
                         7 October 1994
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         Information for this report is provided by the
              UN Rwanda Emergency Office in Kigali
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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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UNREO opens its office in Kibungo today, 7 October with two field staff. A census is carried out in Kigali on 7 October.

SECURITY
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5 expatriate staff from Medecins du Monde (MDM) were held hostage by the local population near Uvira, Zaire. The incident was sparked by alleged looting of property and killing of one local by refugees from Kanganiro Camp, Zaire. The local population allegedly tried to contact UNHCR for their intervention on the matter. They failed to contact UNHCR and subsequently held the MDM staff hostage. UNHCR intervened on MDM's behalf and with the assistance from 20 soldiers from the Zairian army secured the release of the expatriate hostages and their subsequent return to Cyangugu. According to MDM and UNHCR staff, this incident seems to be an indicator of increasing tension in this area, especially between refugees and local population.

UNAMIR will now be able to spread its forces out more evenly throughout Rwanda since the gradual handover of 'Operation Turquoise' to the RPA has now been completed.

The Ministry of Defence, over Radio Rwanda, has advised Kigali residents to contact the Brigade Headquarters, 402 BDE HQ, on telephone numbers (Kigali) 75117 or 75087 in case of any security problem.

REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS
------------------------------

UNREO will open its field offices in Kibungo with two field officers. The office is located approximately 100 metres past the Kibungo Prefecture. The office will assist in coordinating Agency/NGO activity in the area.

The WFP Transport Coordination Unit has assisted in the transport of 3,624 people during the period 26 September-5 October. This includes a group of 1,300 on 3 October 1994. WFP leased trucks used to transport commodities to extended delivery points (EDPs) are then utilised to move refugees on their return journey. At the weekly coordination meeting IOM proposed to have government representatives from the Ministry or Rehabilitation accompany returnee convoys to expedite security searches by RPA.

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
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As of 31 September 1994 UNICEF reports that the total number of unaccompanied children, including those in neighbouring countries, was estimated at 114,000. There were some 40 centres for unaccompanied children registered by UNICEF in Rwanda, and 20 in Goma. The breakdown is as follows:

- Rwanda:                               60,000
  (except southwest zone)
- Goma:                                 20,000
  (12,000 in centres; 8,000 in camps)
- Southwest Rwanda:                     10,000
- Bukavu:                               10,000
- Burundi:                               4,000
- Ngara:                                10,000
 

Currently, there are some 15,000 unaccompanied children registered in NGO-run centres within Rwanda and some 12,000 in Goma. The majority of the remainder are thought to be with foster families, in adolescent-headed families, or grouped together in camps. As part of its mandate, UNICEF has conducted various meetings with Government officials to discuss support for the development of a national child-welfare policy specific to unaccompanied children an to identify related needs of the country.

The Ministry of Rehabilitation is working with Save the Children-UK, Care-Australia, and the Belgian Red Cross to develop criteria for the establishment of foster families. At the weekly meeting for Unaccompanied Minors on Thursday 6 October, both the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) said they were looking to establish a regular schedule for food distribution among children's centres.

HEALTH AND SANITATION
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The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed 4 cases of meningitis in the Kaduha/Gikongoro displaced persons camp between 21 September and 3 October 1994. WHO has asked health partners to report any cases of meningitis to WHO or to the Ministry of Health, which has an epidemic Surveillance System, before making decisions on vaccination campaigns.

A vaccination campaign against meningitis has been under way since 3 October in Kaduha by MSF. An immunisation campaign conducted by the British Field ambulance contingent in Kibeho began Thursday, 6 October and 5,000 children were inoculated on the first day of the exercise. At the start of the exercise, 5,000 vaccines had already been prepared. UK Merlin/Goal will also inoculate 20,000 children in adjacent camps.

WHO has found that dysentery is the second most common cause of morbidity after malaria. Dysentery is however the leading cause of death.

GOVERNMENT
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The 4 NGOs elected to seat on the committee that will deliberate on various issues with the government are OXFAM-Quebec, LWA-Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Save the Children-UK and MSF.

Representatives from the Ministry of Rehabilitation met with these NGO representatives on Thursday 6 October, to discuss guidelines for NGOs working in Rwanda. The Ministry is drafting a proposal classification of NGOs, registration procedures and reporting. NGO representatives and the Ministry of Rehabilitation will meet again on Friday 14, October to discuss the proposal further.

The government is passing a law on 15 October to force squatters to move out of homes they have occupied since the end of the war. This is an attempt to ensure that the homes will be returned to their rightful owners.

UNHCR is assisting the government in financing a census of Kigali residents to determine the number of inhabitants living in the city and who had no habitual residence here before 6 April 1994. The census started 7 October. The aim is to determine the number of returnees who had been outside Rwanda for many years and are now living Kigali. The government advised all residents of the census over Radio Rwanda on Thursday, 6 October.

On October 5, the Minister of Rehabilitation met with the heads of UN Agencies at UNDP. He appealed to them for assistance in resettling the thousands of returnees (old and new) in both rural and urban areas. He indicated that the government is prepared to provide land for the returnees but will need assistance, particularly in urban areas, to build houses in sufficient numbers and defuse the potential conflict which may arise from spontaneous occupations of houses and land.

REHABILITATION
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UN-HABITAT representative from Nairobi, Mr. Heinz Kull, met with UNDP and other Agencies/NGOs on 5 October 1994, to discuss the prospect for funding for a proposal by HABITAT for rehabilitation in Rwanda. The proposal has been sent to UNDP Headquarters in New York for further study as well as to other donors for review.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
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The World Food Programme has prepared a rehabilitation strategy for Rwanda to move away from emergency feeding into longer-term development projects next week. WFP will begin a Food-for-Work programme for 10,000 teachers nationwide. The food baskets contain maize, salt, oil, pulses. The programme will begin in Kigali and then spread out to the rest of the country.

WFP is also giving out food together with seeds in all areas of distribution.

WATER AND SANITATION
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UNICEF has signed a USD 280,000 agreement with a private company to supply up to 1.5 million litres of potable water per day to an estimated 60,000 displaced persons in Kibeho camp in the southwest zone of Rwanda.

HUMAN RIGHTS
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The Interim Report from the Commission of Experts has been handed over to the Security Council and is under discussion. The final report is expected by 30 November 1994. 26 human rights monitors are currently in the country. 121 more are still expected.

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DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA
 
DHA Contacts: 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


Message-Id: <199410111505.LAA63795@ipe.cc.vt.edu>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 1994 08:03:53 -0700
From: "Arthur R. McGee" 
Subject: DHA-GENEVA SITREP VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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