RWANDA: UN BEGIN RELOCATING TUTSI REFUGEES

Описание: (23 Dec 1997) Eng/French/Nat

The United Nations has begun relocating up to 15-thousand Congolese Tutsi refugees in Rwanda.

The repatriations got underway on Tuesday following increasing violence in this northwestern province of Rwanda.

The refugees fled from the Masisi region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) where they were being persecuted by Hutu rebels.

But Rwanda has not proved the safe haven they had hoped and following further attacks by Hutu rebels in Rwanda itself thousands of refugees are being moved once again to another area with the help of aid agencies.

On the move again.

Tutsi refugees packed up their meagre belongings, on Tuesday, preparing to take to the road once again in their search for a safe haven from constant attacks by Hutu rebels.

Thousands of these Congolese refugees at Nkamira camp in northwestern Rwanda will be moved over the space of several days from a camp they thought would provide them with some security.

The Nkamira Camp in northwestern Rwanda is 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of the border town of Gisenyi and has been the target of attacks by Hutu rebels in recent weeks.

This has forced the U-N-H-C-R and the Rwandan governments to relocate the refugees to Byumba which is close to the Ugandan border with Rwanda.

Most of the refugees would prefer to return to their homes in the Masisi region of the former Zaire but have resigned themselves to first moving away from this area now considered practically a war zone.

About 16-hundred people can be transported a day, on a convoy of 29 trucks and buses.

The Tutsi dominated R-P-A (Rwandan Patriotic Army) has not been able to guarantee the safety of the Tutsi refugees here but succeeded in fighting off a major attack four days ago by Hutu insurgents.

Many of the refugees are eager to leave.

SOUNDBITE: (French)
"I am afraid of staying here and that's why we'll now be refugees in Byumba."
SUPERCAPTION: Jacques Kanyamha, Refugee from Masisi

Repatriation back to the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the ultimate goal here for the aid agencies and Rwandan government. It is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

The U-N-H-C-R no longer has any representation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and security in the region is still a problem.

The Hutu rebels constantly cross the borders to press on with their guerilla campaign, taking lives of Tutsi civilians.

But aid workers are hopeful of a successful solution.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I believe preparations are being made and the Congolese government is doing there best to be able to give us the kind of guarantees of minimum security to allow these refugees to return home. But in the mean time I think what everyone has agreed upon, including the refugee leaders is to relocate to a safer area inside Rwanda, pending their return."
SUPERCAPTION: Paula Ghedini, Spokeswoman, UNHCR Rwanda

This stretch of road between the border town of Gisenyi and Ruhengeri has been the site of many ambushes so the convoy is escorted by military vehicles.

Although the Tutsi's are vulnerable to attack in these open trucks and buses they are at least glad to be leaving the region for somewhere they hope will be safer.

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