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Rwanda

Rwanda: Population Movement Emergency Appeal No. MDRRW002 Final Report

Attachments

Period covered by this Final Report: 17 October 2006 to 17 September 2007.

Appeal target (current): CHF 1,545,713 (USD 1,236,570 or EUR 978,300)

Final Appeal coverage: 10%;

Appeal history:

- Emergency Appeal was launched on 17 October 2006 for CHF 1,545,713 (USD 1,236,570 or EUR 978,300) to assist 30,000 beneficiaries for 12 months.

- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 160,000 (USD 130,272 or EUR 101,552).

Summary: CHF 1,545,713 was allocated from the Federation's Emergency Appeal on 17 October 2003, to support the Rwanda Red Cross Society (RRC) to assist 30,000 repatriated beneficiaries including support to the host community through targeted shelter, food distribution, health, water and sanitation intervention as well as other basic social services.

CHF 160,000 was also allocated from Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to initiate the response. Two Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) members were deployed to the site in addition to the National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) members and five RRC volunteers in place. The RRC availed a pick-up truck for full time use at the camp. The Red Cross volunteers together with local authorities in the camp were in charge of registration and distribution of immediate needs. They also participated in registering people for relocation to their areas of origin or to new resettlement camps. A total of 5,412 households (16,820 persons) were assisted by the RRC in transit camp and on site.

The situation

In May 2006, the Tanzanian Government took the decision to repatriate thousands of Rwandese who had been living in Tanzania for many years, majority since 1959. Others had left their homes in 1987, 1994, 2000 and 2003. From 19th May 2006 Rwanda Red Cross received the returnees in transit camp in Kiyanzi and Kirehe districts. All the emergency assistance was provided on their arrival at the camp. Majority of the returnees were women, children and the aged. Prior to this, the women had gone through traumatizing experiences like rape or had their properties stolen. Based on this the Federation launched an Emergency Appeal on behalf of Rwandan Red Cross to enable the National Society assist the returnees. The Appeal was developed on the assumption that only half of the people (6,000 families) or 30,000 people living along theborder would return during the next 12 months. All the returnees were taken to the resettlement sites; those who could recall their ancestral homes weretaken back. Those who were taken to the sites are in resettlement in the districts of Kirehe, Kayonza, Ngoma, Bugesera, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Nyamagabe and Ruzizi districts. The RRC still manages the Kiyanzi transit camp in collaboration with the Rwandan Ministry of Local Government, World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) as at the end November 2007.