UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
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.
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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"
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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