ON FRIDAY 28/6/96, SOME 1267 BURUNDESE REFUGEES ARRIVED AT THE CIBITOKE/CYANGUGU BORDER (SECTEUR KIBIGARA/COMMUNE MUGINA) AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY IOM TO THE COMMUNAL OFFICE IN BUGARAMA. THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES DOUBLED OVER THE WEEKEND, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 2,510 BY MONDAY, 1 JULY 1996 (AM).
MEETINGS WERE HELD ON 28 JUNE 1996 BETWEEN THE PREFECT, UNHCR AND REFUGEE REPRESENTATIVES. THE REFUGEES REPORTED LEAVING BURUNDI FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF HOUSES. THEY SAID THEY HAD BEEN ORDERED LAST WEEK TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNES AND SEEK REFUGE AT THE COMMUNAL OFFICE OF MUGINA. ACCORDING TO THE REFUGEES, THIS OFFICE WAS
ATTACKED AND SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE KILLED, PROMPTING THE GROUP TO FLEE TO RWANDA.

A SECOND MEETING WAS HELD BETWEEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES FROM BOTH SIDES ON SATURDAY 29 JUNE 1996. THE BURUNDI MAYOR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RELATIVES OF SOME OF THE REFUGEES HAD BEEN KILLED AND THAT HOUSES HAD BEEN DESTROYED, BUT ENCOURAGED THE REFUGEES TO RETURN TO BURUNDI.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNHCR'S CYANGUGU FIELD OFFICE SAID THE COMMUNAL OFFICE WAS NOT AN ADEQUATE ASYLUM LOCATION AND SUGGESTED THE REFUGEES BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NYARUSHISHI TRANSIT CENTER, WHILE UNHCR-KIGALI AND THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA HOLD CONSULTATIONS TO DETERMINE A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION. A DECISION WILL REPORTEDLY BE TAKEN ON TUESDAY 2 JULY 1996, FOLLOWING A MEETING BETWEEN CIVIL AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CONCERN (FOOD DISTRIBUTION), INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE (WATER/SANITATION FACILITIES), NORWEGIAN PEOPLES AID (MEDICAL SCREENING) AND UNHCR (NON-FOOD ITEMS). AMONG THE REFUGEES ARE 150 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING ASSISTED BY SAVE THE CHILDREN-UK (STC-UK). MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF-E) ARRIVED ON SUNDAY
29 JUNE 1996 TO UNDERTAKE MEASLE VACCINATIONS. THE RWANDESE MILITARY HAS STEPPED UP SECURITY AT THE COMMUNAL CAMP LOCATION.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Public Information Office
Attn Paul Stromberg, Rebeka Martensen Tel: +250 85106; Fax: +250 85104