TANZANIA: REFUGEES GRANTED ASYLUM IN THE USA

Описание: (6 Dec 1998) Eng/French/Nat

Two-hundred and twenty-eight Burundians and Rwandans are on their way to the United States after Washington accepted their applications for refugee status.

The refugees -- all from half-Hutu, half-Tutsi families -- had been living in the so-called "mixes marriages" camp in the bush in western Tanzania.

Since 1993, more than 700-thousand people have died in violence between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda and Burundi.

For these 228 people, moving to the U-S gives them a new lease on life.

Since he fled his home country Burundi in 1993, Emmanuel Sibomana has lived in the Mkugwa Refugee Camp, deep in the bush in western Tanzania.

Sibomana earns a living carving wood sculptures sold to tourists.

His carvings depict a lush, peaceful Africa, far from the brutal reality Sibomana and his family have experienced.

But now, his mixed Hutu-Tutsi family has been accepted for asylum in the United States -- an opportunity he says will change their lives.

SOUNDBITE: (French)
"For me it's very interesting to be able to go to America because it's a country where there's peace and democracy. And it's a country where you can live in peace and educate your children."
SUPERCAPTION: Emmanuel Sibomana, Burundian Refugee

Officials from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees give the heads of each family a briefing on their travel plans.

Those not lucky enough to be granted asylum watch quietly through the fence.

These resettlement applicants had expressed fear they would be killed if they were to return to either Rwanda or Burundi.

A Hutu spouse feared being killed by Tutsi leaders and the Tutsi spouse feared the same fate from Hutu forces.

There was also danger from their own ethnic groups -- who may view them as traitors.

At 4 A-M the next morning, it's time to leave.

After a final check on the bus...

...And final waves out the door...

The bus departs amid raucous cheering.

The next day, the group waits at a teaching college in Mwanza.

Oscar Niyiragira has dressed his boys in their finest clothes for their trip to America.

He says countries like the U-S have a responsibility to accept the children of mixed marriages.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"You know, this one, he's neither a Hutu nor a Tutsi. He's mixed. So there is no where here he can find peace. If he goes to the side of the Tutsis, he'll be killed. If he goes in the Hutuland, he'll be killed."
SUPERCAPTION: Oscar Niyiragira, Burundian Hutu Refugee

But Niyiragira admits he has regrets about taking his children away from their homeland.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It makes me a bit sick because my children are going to lose all my culture."
SUPERCAPTION: Oscar Niyiragira, Burundian Hutu Refugee

The final stop before the airport, a medical clinic for the last doctor's screening.

These refugees have all been screened for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.

Now the kids get inoculations...

While some prepare to converse in a new language.

Finally, it's time for take off.

This plane will take them to Nairobi.

From the Kenyan capital they are due to catch the plane to Washington D-C.

Once in the U-S, all the refugees will be sent to different locations, where they'll receive help finding homes and jobs.

U-N-H-C-R officials say they are still trying to negotiate solutions that mean refugees like these can return to Burundi and Rwanda and live in peace.

But so far, no durable solution has been found.

And that means this group must look beyond the horizon to find a better future.

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