Office of the Regional Humanitarian
Advisor for the Great Lakes, DHA Nairobi
POPULATION MOVEMENTS IN THE GREAT LAKES
REGION
(DISPLACED - DISPERSED - REFUGEES)
SUMMARY TABLE
Updated version as of 8 December
1) REPUBLIC
OF CONGO (Brazzaville)
See
map for locations
LOCATION | ORIGIN | FIGURE | COMMENT |
Loukolela | Rwandan |
5,300
| Majority are young males who do not want repatriation. |
Ndjundou | Rwandan |
2,150
| Refugees. |
Impfondo | Rwandan |
800
| According to the latest count, there are 744 refugees in Impfondo, however, UNHCR is using 800 as the working figure. |
Liranga | Rwandan |
525
| Refugees. |
Kintele | Rwandan |
2,350
| Bilolo caseload. |
Various | Burundian |
200
| A total of 200 Burundians are estimated to be in the various refugee sites in Congo-Brazzaville. |
Pointe Noire | Angolan |
6,000
| Approximate figure. Refugees from the Cabinda enclave. Assistance has been provided by UNHCR, WFP and the Federation. |
Various areas | Congolese |
650,000
| Displaced Congolese; approximate figure. WFP has delivered assistance for 60,600 IDPs in the Pointe Noire region. MSF/F has identified 120,000 IDPs in northern areas of Oyo and Gamboma. MSF/H reports that nearly 200,000 IDPs are in the Brazzaville environ. |
Total: |
667,325
| Figures for refugees provided by UNHCR, Kinshasa. The figure for displaced persons is the agreed working figure for the humanitarian agencies operating in Congo-Brazzaville. |
On 10 November, the UN launched a Flash Appeal for Congo-Brazzaville, requesting $17.7 million to meet the priority needs of the 650,000 IDPs for an initial three months period. The global figure for funds received thus far is $2,437,000. WFP states that nearly 60% of the inhabitants have returned to Brazzaville.
Rwandan refugees started to cross into the northern areas of the Republic of Congo after the fall of Mbandaka (former Zaire) to AFDL soldiers in May 1997. Access to the northern areas was difficult as it is mostly swamp and dense forest areas; therefore the decision was made to relocate the refugees at transit centres outside Brazzaville. At the end of May, nearly 5000 refugees were transferred on barges from Liranga to the Bilolo transit centre. With the start of the fighting on 5 June, access was limited to the refugees, while the refugees themselves dispersed heading north towards Gabon or southwest towards Pointe Noire. In August, Bilolo camp came under heavy fire and the remaining refugees were moved to Kintele (north of Brazzaville). Also in August, approximately 900 refugees were repatriated from the Loukolela region by UNHCR, though the majority of the Rwandans do not want repatriation. On 4 November an UNHCR team travelled to Loukolela in order to discuss the logistics for the repatriation of those refugees that are requesting to return on a voluntary basis. The refugees will be transported from Kintele and the northern refugees sites to Brazzaville, from where they will be airlifted back to Rwanda. The first flight for repatriation operations from Congo-Brazzaville started Thursday 20 November when 65 Rwandans (including 15 UAC) were transferred to Kigali. To date, 85 Rwandans have been repatriated, while approximately 170 have requested voluntary repatriation.
2) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
LOCATION | ORIGIN | FIGURE | COMMENT |
Kinshasa | Congolese |
27,060
| 27,060 is the current agreed working figure between aid agencies. According to a census conducted on 11 November, 13,000 refugees are currently living in Kinkole camp, though the number may be as high as 15,000. |
Mutwanga town
Mwenda (N. Kivu) | Ugandan |
4,330*
| Number located by UNICEF and MSF-H while on mission to the region: 23-28 October. Up to 23,000 Ugandans are thought to be in the area. |
Eastern DRC | Congolese
(ex-Zairian) |
96,000**
| Current working figure for Displaced population. Breakdown: 75,000 for North Kivu and 21,000 for South Kivu. |
Eastern DRC | Rwandan |
10,000***
| Approximate figure. UNHCR believes there are still 'tens of thousands' of Rwandans in eastern DRC. |
Mbandaka
Mbuji-Mayi | Burundian |
400
| Approximate figure. |
Eastern DRC | Rwandan |
1,900
| Unaccompanied children (UAC); figures includes some Burundian and Ugandan children. North Kivu: 1,000; South Kivu: 800; Kisangani:100. |
Mbandaka
Mbuji Mayi | Rwandan |
1,115
| UAC: includes Burundian and Ugandan. In Mbandaka: 615; Mubji Mayi: 500. |
Uvira | Congolese
(Ex-Zairian) |
200
| UAC figure. |
North Kivu | Congolese (Ex-Zairian) |
1,000
| UAC figure. |
Total: |
142,005
| Figures for refugees provided by
UNHCR. Figures for displaced population provided by DHA/Goma. Figures for
UAC provided by UNICEF, SCF-UK and COOPI.
(The total stated above is a round figure, it does not take into account the 20,000 Ugandan or the tens of thousands of Rwandan refugees thought to be in the DRC) |
Since the beginning of November, DRC authorities rounded up more than 2,000 long-term settlers and old caseload refugees, mainly Rwandans, Burundians and Congolese citizens (those married to Rwandan or Burundian) in the Uvira and Bukavu region and expelled them to Rwanda and Burundi. The DRC authorities claim that these people were infiltrators and a threat to security; the majority were women and children.
A tripartite agreement regarding repatriation operations from Kinkole camp in Kinshasa was signed Saturday 29 November between UNHCR, DRC and Congo-Brazzaville. Repatriation of the nearly 30,000 Congolese refugees is set to begin Monday 8 December. UNHCR hopes to transport by boat 1800 refugees on three weekly trips, each accommodating 600 persons.
The search for refugees still considered to be hiding in the forests has been limited as of early September when UNHCR announced the suspension of their activities relating to Rwandan refugees. UNHCR believes there are 200,000 Rwandan (and Burundian) refugees unaccounted for in the DRC.
* UNICEF and MSF-H travelled to the Mutwanga and Oicha areas of North Kivu to investigate reports of a presence of nearly 23,000 Ugandan refugees. Access to the region is extremely difficult as it mostly dense forest areas. Local authorities reported to the mission the presence of 4,330 Ugandan refugees: 591 in Mwenda; 2,928 in Kikura; 511 in Kikingi; 200 in Masambo; 100 in Bulango; and 19 unaccompanied children. According to local authorities, there are a number of refugees who regularly travel back and forth across the border. Also, according to recent news reports, Ugandan refugees are on the move back. Local Ugandan authorities are preparing for the arrival of an estimated 20,000 persons.
** It is difficult to give an accurate number for IDPs in eastern DRC as the population is continuously on the move.
*** Local sources in eastern DRC state there are 6000 in Shabunda; 14,000 in the forests of Shabunda/Lulingu/Katshungu; 13,000 along the Bukavu axis.
3) TANZANIA
See map for locations
LOCATION | ORIGIN | FIGURE | COMMENT |
Kigoma | Burundian |
150,490
| Refugees. |
Kigoma | Mixed |
1,233
| Mixed marriages: Rwandans and Burundians. |
Kigoma | Congolese
(ex-Zairian) |
77,056
| Approximately 51,428 Congolese have registered for voluntary repatriation. |
Ngara | Burundian |
99,261
| Refugees. |
Mkuyu,
Handeni District | Somali |
3,000
| Refugees. |
Kigwa | Mixed |
859
| Mixed population of Congolese, Ugandan, Burundian and Angolan refugees. |
Various | Tanzanian |
2,016
| Figures for UAC, as of 31 October 1997. |
Total: |
333,915
| Figures provided by UNHCR, Dar es Salaam. Figures for UAC provided by UNICEF, Dar es Salaam. |
As of 27 November, 20,304 persons (mostly old caseload refugees or long-term residents) were rounded up in the Kigoma region (10,878 Congolese; 9,407 Burundians; 19 Rwandans) of which 18,336 were sent back to their respective camps. 700 are currently being screened at the 'holding centre' in Kigoma town. In Ngara, 11,088 people were rounded up and transported to Lukole camp. Another 2,200 long-term residents were rounded up in Manyovu, Kasulu District and are awaiting transfer to the camps in Kigoma. 1,701 were rounded up on 28 November, of which 600 have been screened while 1,601 are awaiting screening.
Since the beginning of October, Tanzanian authorities have expelled nearly 2,000 Rwandans and 575 Burundians living in Tanzania. Tanzanian authorities state that these individuals were found to be living 'illegally' in the country and were thus repatriated.
Repatriation operations have resumed for Congolese refugees; operations had been suspended since 30 October. Since the resumption on 27 November, a total of 1,212 Congolese have returned to the Uvira region in eastern DRC.
4) RWANDA
See map for locations
LOCATION | ORIGIN | FIGURE | COMMENT |
Kibuye
Kiziba Camp | Congolese
(ex-Zairian) |
13,500
| Refugees. |
Gisenyi
(Mudende Camp) | Congolese
(ex-Zairian) |
17,029
| Refugees. |
Cyangugu
(Bugarama) | Congolese
(ex-Zairian) |
773
| Refugees. |
Various | Rwandan |
120,000
| Detainees living in cachots and prisons across Rwanda. |
Various | Burundian |
3,257
| Registered in camps in the following prefectures: Cyangugu (2,627), Gikongoro (143), Butare (273) and Umutara (214). |
Gisenyi | Rwandan |
27,000
| Displaced population; government figure. WFP estimates between 9 - 12,000. |
Ruhengeri | Rwandan |
700
| Displaced population. |
Kibuye | Rwandan |
1,600
| Displaced population. |
Various | Rwandan |
6,329
| UAC figure; UAC are located in 48 centres throughout the country. |
Total: |
190,188
| Figures for refugees provided by UNHCR, Kigali. The figure for detainees provided by ICRC, Kigali. Figures for displaced population provided by WFP, Kigali. UAC figures by UNICEF, Kigali. |
UNHCR has received reports concerning the expulsion of some 550 long-term Burundians settled in Rwanda. According to Burundian sources, Rwandan authorities are planning to expel some 3,000 such Burundian settlers.
Due to continued fighting in Burundi's Cibitoke province (bordering southwestern Rwanda), approximately 1,000 Rwandans and several dozen Burundians have entered into Rwanda. UNHCR has provided them with humanitarian assistance.
The Congolese refugees arrived in Rwanda in December 1996 following insecurity in the Masisi region (eastern DRC). Continued insecurity in the Masisi region forced the displacement of approximately 8000 persons of which an estimated 4000 arrived in Gisenyi in September 1997. In early October, DRC officials visited Mudende camp where discussions were held with local Rwandan officials about the possible return to DRC of this caseload.
* Since August, UNHCR has started transferring those Burundians who have requested voluntary repatriation. To date, 2,864 have been voluntarily repatriated.
5) UGANDA
See map for locations
LOCATION | ORIGIN | FIGURE | COMMENT |
Mbarara District
Oruchinga Camp | Rwandan |
10,113
| 1994 caseload, though there are some new arrivals. |
Mbarara District
Nakivale | Rwandan |
3,532
| Majority are 1959 caseload.
Camp also includes Somalis, Ethiopians and some Kenyans. |
Kabarole District
Kyaka II Camp | Congolese
(ex-Zairian) |
10,000
| 1992-93 caseload. |
Hoima District
Kyangwali Camp | Congolese
(ex-Zairian) |
3,428
| Since November 1996, some are still arriving. Figure includes 350 Sudanese refugees. |
North/northwest | Sudanese |
174,040
| 1992-94 caseload, though some have been there since the late 1980s. |
Kiryandongo | Sudanese |
9,500
| 1992-94 caseload. |
Kitgum | Sudanese |
16,000
| 1992-94 caseload. |
Kitgum | Ugandan |
61,000
| Displaced population. WFP estimates the figure to be between 61 to 67,000. This figure represents the number of people assisted by WFP. |
Gulu | Ugandan |
266,000
| Displaced population. Represents the number of people assisted by WFP. |
Bundibugyo
(Western Uganda) | Ugandan |
61,000
| Displaced population. Represents the number of people assisted by WFP. |
Total: |
614,613
| Figures provided by UNHCR and WFP, Kampala. |
Between 23 - 28 November, UNHCR has noted an influx of 1,700 Sudanese refugees in the Kitgum region. The refugees are arriving from Torit in southern Sudan and claim that an increase in rebel activity and a shortage of food stocks forced their flight.
WFP travelled to the Kitgum region on 4 November to investigate the presence of an additional 50,000 displaced persons. The mission reported back stating no significant change in the number of displaced persons.
6) BURUNDI
See map for locations
LOCATION | ORIGIN | FIGURE | COMMENT |
Bubanza | Burundian |
123,701
| Figures include displaced, regrouped and repatriated populations living in sites. |
Bujumbura | Burundian |
41,954
| Same as above. |
Bururi | Burundian |
50,259
| Same as above. Due to insecurity in the southern provinces, an additional 10,000 were recently displaced in Bururi. |
Cankuzo | Burundian |
3,254
| Figures include displaced, regrouped and repatriated populations living in sites. |
Cibitoke | Burundian |
49,971
| Same as above. |
Gitega | Burundian |
26,539
| Same as above. |
Karuzi | Burundian |
71,307
| Same as above. |
Kayanza | Burundian |
70,365
| Same as above. |
Kirundo | Burundian |
27,962
| Same as above. |
Makamba | Burundian |
37,785
| Same as above. |
Muramvya | Burundian |
25,380
| WFP and the Federation have completed the distribution of return packages for Muramvya. |
Muyinga | Burundian |
22,855
| Figures include displaced, regrouped and repatriated populations living in sites. |
Ngozi | Burundian |
19,184
| Same as above. |
Rutana | Burundian |
3,675
| Same as above. |
Ruyigi | Burundian |
6,335
| Same as above. |
Total: |
586,288
| Figures provided by DHA/HCU, Bujumbura. |
The total number of people living in sites throughout Burundi is 586,288 or approximately 10% of the population.The dismantling of regroupment camps began, unofficially, in June 1997 in Gisyo commune of Kayanza province when 16,000 persons returned to their commune of origin. Since then, approximately 32,000 people have returned. All returnees have been assisted by the humanitarian community in receiving return packages. Due to security conditions, the process