Escalating Violence in Rwandan Refugee Camps Forces UN to Consider Strengthening International Presence

Politically inspired violence in Rwandan refugee camps in Zaire and Tanzania is escalating, prompting the United Nations to consider enhancing its international mission in the region. The Security Council will discuss the matter this month, and a meeting of refugee and aid organizations in Geneva early next week will focus on the issue. Private relief organizations are threatening to withdraw from camps in Zaire, where former Hutu-led Rwandan Government soldiers are intimidating and killing refugees.

Key Takeaways:

• The United Nations is considering strengthening its international mission in the region, possibly with the introduction of a protection force, due to escalating violence in Rwandan refugee camps in Zaire and Tanzania.
• Private relief organizations are threatening to withdraw from camps in Zaire, where soldiers of the former Hutu-led Rwandan Government are intimidating and killing refugees, or depriving them of food and medical supplies.
• There are approximately 1.3 million Rwandan refugees in Zaire, 550,000 in Tanzania, and about 11.8 million people still displaced in Rwanda, according to United Nations figures.
• Conditions in the camps are deteriorating rapidly, with refugees facing danger, and women and children not receiving food aid.
• The French are concerned that a renewed civil war is possible in Rwanda, and ethnic violence could also be re-ignited in neighboring Burundi.
• Zairian officials are aware of the lawlessness in the camps, and Zaire would welcome international support.
• Cooperation from the police in Tanzania is limited, and the situation in Tanzania is also deteriorating.
• The Rwandan Government has warned that delays in setting up an international tribunal to try those accused of massacres in which up to a million people died between April and July would be a consequence of further violence.
• A vote on setting up the tribunal is scheduled for Monday in the Security Council.

Statistics:

• 1.3 million Rwandan refugees in Zaire
• 550,000 Rwandan refugees in Tanzania
• 11.8 million people still displaced in Rwanda
• 36 villagers, including 26 children, were killed by former Hutu militiamen in a village near the Zairean border on Tuesday

Sources:

• "United Nations considers peacekeeping force for Rwandan camps" (New York Times)
• "UN High Commissioner for Refugees"
• "Rwandan Government"
• United Nations Security Council meeting (no specific source)