UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES Office for the Coordination of Bureau de Coordination des Humanitarian Affairs Affaires Humanitaires

Affected Populations in the Great Lakes Region

(31 October 2004)

P.O. Box 30218 Telephone: +254 20 622 166 Nairobi, Kenya Fax: +254 20 622 632

OCHA Regional Support Office for Central and Eastern Africa AFFECTED POPULATIONS SUMMARY

TOTAL AFFECTED IDPs REFUGEES POPULATION CHANGES % COUNTRY (in figures) March October March October March October 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004

BURUNDI 281,638 145,033 40,971 35,000 322,609 180,033 -44.2 (-142,576)

DRC 3,413,700 2,170,000 234,172 227,000 3,647,872 2,397,000 -34.3 (-,250,872)

RWANDA 4,158 4,158 34,309 39,461 38,467 43,619 +13.4 (5,152)

TANZANIA N/A N/A 467,306 410,429 467,306 410,429 -12.2 (-56,877)

UGANDA 1,559,344 1,460,785 230,801 225,574 1,790,145 1,686,359 -5.8 (-103,786)

TOTAL 5,258,840 3,779,976 1,007,559 937,464 6,266,399 4,717,440 -24.7 (-1,548,959)

OCHA RSO-CEA is funded by the following donors

BPRM

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The information presented in this document represents best estimates of the number of displaced, refugees and vulnerable populations throughout the Great Lakes Region. Sources of information include UN agencies, NGOs, the Red Cross family, central governments and local authorities. Internally displaced people are those who have been forced to move out of their residences and who are living dispersed in the bush, with host families or in other sites. The information is organised by country, location, category and national origin. The total population figures per country are taken from various sources, including national census reports and the 2003 UNDP Human Development Report.

This report on the affected populations in the Great Lakes Region covers the period from March - when the last such report appeared - to the end of October 2004. The definition of the Great Lakes is based on a political rather than geographical rationale, including therefore those countries affected directly and indirectly by the major conflicts: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo (RoC) Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Some 3.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and close to 1 million refugees are now reported in the numbers for the region. This represents a 24.7% decrease from figures reported in March. This decrease - mostly in internally displaced - represents a positive development, as in Burundi, DRC and Uganda some internally displaced populations have been able to return to newly-secure areas and there has been significant repatriation to Burundi from Tanzania. However, such figures can be guidelines only as it remains difficult to estimate accurately the real numbers of internally displaced in areas of conflict where access is limited. In addition, repeated displacement and the temporarily displaced are not fully reflected in the overall figures. At the same time, continued conflict in certain areas, most notably Eastern DRC, still prompts further displacement and refugee outflows, and levels of vulnerability for populations in the region continue to rise.

The Regional Overview that follows highlights the current political and security context in the region and the impact that this has upon its populations. Progress in the transitional processes in Burundi and DRC continues to offer hope to the region, yet their fragility and persistent insecurity in certain areas - as well as the regional repercussions in terms of political tensions, population movement, and a continued climate of fear and uncertainty - still pose threats to stability despite regional initiatives to encourage peace. While positive moves encourage return and reintegration, conflict still prompts internal displacement, refugee outflows and is a disincentive to repatriation. At the same time, human rights abuses continue - most notably sexual violence - and issues of governance, political freedom, and ethnic reconciliation pose challenges for the region. Conflict has impacted on the health and nutritional status of all populations - with children often being the most adversely affected, while poor social and economic infrastructure and climatic factors also affect the ability of populations to survive and prosper.

In each of the country sections, the humanitarian situation is reviewed as well as the factors - often political and security-related - that influence this. In Burundi, attention is drawn in particular to the growing stability in areas of the country that has encouraged IDP and refugee return, while the threat to this of transitional uncertainty is recognised. The humanitarian situation in DRC remains of serious concern, as factional fighting in the east displaces populations and regional tensions persist. Rwanda has begun to tackle issues of reconciliation, judicial reform, land policy and socio-economic development, yet certain groups - such as detainees and those in inadequate shelter - remain of humanitarian concern, while Rwanda's tense relations with its neighbours may have serious consequences. Tanzania continues to host a high proportion of the region's refugees, but attitudes to this population may harden once again as elections approach. In Uganda, increased willingness on the part of the Government to engage in negotiation with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has been a very hopeful sign, but conditions for IDPs in the north remain critical and, even if future return becomes a reality, immediate needs remain as extensive as ever. As a new feature in this report, a

2 short entry has also be provided on the Republic of Congo in view of the current serious humanitarian situation in the Pool region, the possibility of further violence within the country, as well as the cross- border implications of a fragile transition in the DRC.

Needs for affected populations throughout the region remain acute. By the end of November, some US$368,967,795 (67.5%) had been received of the amount requested (US$548,712,509) in the 2004 Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeals for the region, Burundi, DRC, Tanzania and Uganda. In November, the 2005 Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeals for 2005 were launched for the Great Lakes Region (regional appeal), Burundi, DRC, Republic of Congo and Uganda, requesting a total of US$601,536,926.

3 A REGIONAL OVERVIEW

Regional Political and Security Context

In his thought-provoking welcome statement on 19 November to the 11 Heads of State attending the first summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes, President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania noted the recent Security Council recognition of positive progress in Africa - in peace processes to bring resolution to long-standing conflicts, in increased political stability and an emphasis on democratic elections. At the same time, he stated that 'Africa is undergoing change; but this change remains fragile and needs to be firmly anchored in solid ground for its expansion and sustainability.' This message is only too relevant for the Great Lakes region, where the 'fragility' to which he refers has been evident throughout the period under review despite considerable efforts - and some progress - to consolidate the achievements of peace processes and move forward.

• Fragile Transitions In Burundi, the ceasefire between the Government and the CNDD-FDD has been consolidated, the demobilisation process is finally set to begin in earnest and a political power-sharing agreement was reached in Pretoria in August. Yet despite these positive developments, wrangling over the draft constitution, uncertainty over the timing of elections and the duration of the transitional period raised political temperatures and prompted fears for the future. The DRC has seen a no less fragile situation, where despite some real progress, delays in the full implementation of transitional arrangements and structures, friction over the establishment of military and political power-sharing agreements and tension and mistrust over the integration of the national army have all had repercussions for internal stability as power struggles are played out in fighting on the ground - particularly in the east. This was evidenced by the deterioration of the security situation around Bukavu in May as rival factions sought control of the town. In both Burundi and DRC, election timetables are 'markers' of the way forward. Yet delays in their implementation - whether resulting from political disagreements or the contextually-understandable serious administrative and logistic constraints - send worrying signals for populations concerned and increase uncertainty over the future.

• Persistent Insecurity - and its Regional Repercussions As long as fighting continues in the eastern DRC, and the rebel militias of neighbours - most particularly of Rwanda and Uganda - are believed to shelter there, this area will remain, as in this period, a source of tension and a potential catalyst for renewed regional conflict. Similarly, the current inability of the Government to exert full sovereign control over this territory - and its abundant and valuable natural resources - proffers tempting opportunities for potential exploiters that may also undermine moves towards peace. In Burundi, continued conflict between the FNL and the forces of the Transitional Government not only results in the death and displacement of civilian, but poses an internal threat to stability and has regional repercussions. The August massacre of 152 Congolese - mostly Banyamulenge - refugees in the Gatumba site in Burundi impacted not only upon hopes for peace in Burundi and a resolution of conflict with this group, but the allegations of involvement by the militias of other countries also threatened regional relationships between Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda, as well as previous commitments to respect principles of sovereignty and non-intervention. The alleged presence of Uganda rebel groups - the ADF and PRA - in DRC is also cited by Uganda as an on-going security threat with the potential to prompt future intervention, while Rwanda has been far more vociferous about the perceived continued threat - and their potential response - from ex-FAR/interahamwe militia. Conflict in Northern Uganda also continued throughout the period under review, with military activities undertaken against the LRA in South Sudan, where Sudanese civilians have also suffered at the hands of this Ugandan rebel group. Meanwhile, although Tanzania has had no overt involvement in the conflicts in the Great Lakes, its role as host of countless refugees exposes it to the security concerns that accompany large populations and political discussion over the actions of refugees and

4 their future. Indeed, the return of Burundi refugees seems the object of political capital in both Burundi and Tanzania. A Refugees International report suggests that some groups in Burundi are eager to have the refugees return in time for elections in order to bring their perceived supporters on board in time for registration as voters in the elections. Meanwhile, in Tanzania, the ruling party has indicated as one of its election pledges the repatriation of Burundian refugees from the country prior to elections slated for June 2005.1

• Regional Peace Initiatives A variety of initiatives have been on-going in attempts to diffuse tensions between countries in the region. National ministers and Presidents have met on key occasions - in talks hosted by President Obasanjo in Abuja, in Kampala where a tripartite agreement was signed on regional security mechanisms, and on the margins of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. The International Conference on Peace, Security and Development in the Great Lakes Region has been the most wide- ranging initiative of all. Expanded to involve 11 countries - both the core countries of the Great Lakes and their neighbours impacted by the conflict - the long-running and wide-ranging consultative process to date culminated in a Summit of Heads of State in Tanzania in early November and the signature of a Declaration of Principles. As for all the peace processes for the Great Lakes, however, it remains to be seen how far the paper commitments so formally endorsed will be realised on the ground in concrete actions to further stability, development and prosperity.

Humanitarian Situation

The political and security situation in the countries of the region has far reaching humanitarian consequences - on the populations themselves, as well as for access to them by the humanitarian community. Such access continues to be constrained in many areas by security concerns, but also by administrative and bureaucratic constraints - such as the imposition of taxes and other barriers to the import of vital supplies - and by the logistical hurdles posed by poor road infrastructure.

• Affected Populations The summary table prefacing this report indicates that, in total, the number of internally displaced in the region has dropped by some 1,478,864 to 3,779,976, while refugee numbers have also decreased by 70,095 to 937,464. In many ways such a fall in numbers is extremely encouraging, reflecting as it does the possibility for some internally displaced in both Burundi and DRC particularly, and in Uganda to a limited extent, to return to their homes as peace and stability is restored in parts of these countries. Similarly, there has been significant repatriation from Tanzania to Burundi and Angolan refugees are starting to leave the DRC. Yet, despite these positive developments, the extent and impact of displacement - internal and cross-border - in the region remains dramatic.

• Internally Displaced Populations Some 4.7 million are believed to be either displaced within their countries or to have crossed borders to seek refuge. In prevailing climates of insecurity which limit humanitarian access, and with the fluid movement of populations within and across borders, it remains extremely difficult to accurately monitor the actual numbers affected and the real figures of internally displaced could be much higher than the cited 3.7 million. Furthermore, such totals cannot truly reflect the phenomena of repeated or temporary displacement - and the devastating impact this has on the populations involved. During the period this has been seen particularly in Bujumbura Rural in Burundi, the Kivus in DRC, as well as in northern Uganda where, moreover, night commuting to places of relative safety also continues. The most substantial reduction in numbers of internally displaced has been in Burundi, where increased security in some areas has allowed return. In addition, the reduced figures reflect data collection undertaken in the IDP sites between March and July 2004 - the first comprehensive survey for some

1 Refugees International, Burundi: Large Scale Repatriation would Threaten Peace, 12 April 2004 5 time. One extremely encouraging development during the period in relation to IDPs was the Ugandan Government's adoption of the IDP Policy, which has been in development for some time. This explicitly recognises the rights and needs of IDPs, and reaffirms the responsibilities towards them of Government and other parties.

• Refugees Despite the noted decrease in reported refugee populations resulting from some repatriation - to Burundi, to Angola, to the DRC and to Rwanda - levels of return have been counterbalanced, to a certain extent, by the continued outflow of refugees. Political uncertainty over the transition prompted the movement of Burundians to both Tanzania and Rwanda, although movement from northern Rwanda was allegedly also due to issues of food insecurity. Fighting in Eastern DRC led to Congolese refugees being received in Tanzania, Burundi and Uganda. Uganda also continues to receive some refugees from Southern Sudan.

Yet during this period especially, the refuge sought has not always provided the desired security. The August massacre of Congolese refugees at the Gatumba site in Burundi remains a shocking example of this. A continued reluctance on the part of Governments in the region to receive new refugees, or bear the burden of large refugee populations over a prolonged period has also been noted. Incidents of refoulement by Tanzania have been reported, movement restrictions remain in force around the camps and there is concern that, as elections approach, public attitudes and rhetoric on refugees will harden. In Uganda meanwhile, approximately 11,000 Congolese were expelled as they had refused registration and camp accommodation.

• Repatriation and Reintegration There has been considerable repatriation during the period, although, as a result of the continued uncertain political and security situation in the region, perhaps not to the extent anticipated at the beginning of the year. Over 80,000 Burundians have returned from Tanzania (against an initial planning figure of 150,000). There has been some voluntary return of Congolese. In addition, Rwanda still actively encourages the return of its nationals from within and beyond the region. Some limited return, for example, of Rwandans from Republic of Congo began during the period. While extensive voluntary return, and the successful reintegration of returning populations in their places of origin, is a positive development in the Great Lakes, there remain serious concerns that not all return is entirely voluntary. The expulsion of Congolese from Uganda noted above, and from Angola, are examples of this. Furthermore, poor security or decreasing assistance levels may be 'push' factors for return. At the same time, conditions on return, including continued insecurity, uncertainty over land and property access or restitution, as well as limited social (especially health) and economic infrastructure, may not only impact on the quality of life for returnees, but also deter further repatriation. Thus, investment in areas of return, and support to returnees, remains a priority for the region.

• Other Vulnerable Populations The internally displaced, refugees and returnees are not the only vulnerable populations in the region - this report numbers some 46.6 million in particularly vulnerable groups, including food insecure, detainees and prison populations, and HIV/AIDS victims or orphans. Indeed, populations who have remained in situ despite the conflict that rages around them, or those in refugee-hosting areas, can be as vulnerable - to the conflict itself through human rights abuses, to restrictions of civil liberties in times of political tension, to the effects of conflict-increased poverty, to the steady decline of social and economic infrastructure, and to food insecurity particularly where positive coping mechanisms are curtailed. Yet such populations often fall outside the remit of emergency assistance, and development programmes in transitional countries. In DRC and Burundi, for example, such programmes have yet to be fully implemented due to continuing concerns over consolidating peace or slow resource provision or release. In Rwanda, for example, the Norwegian Refugee Council has recently highlighted the desperate situation of 900,000 persons (180,000 families) in inadequate shelter. In Tanzania, the

6 Country Team is in the process of defining an integrated transitional strategy for refugees and refugee-affected areas in Western Tanzania, which addresses the negative impact of refugee presence while building on their positive impact and the presence of international actors.

• Human Rights Abuses As long as conflict continues, small arms proliferate, the rule of law is absent and a culture of impunity prevails, human rights abuses will continue in the Great Lakes. In Uganda, while current encouraging moves towards negotiation with the LRA have reduced levels of violence, during the period under review sporadic abductions and killings continued. In DRC and Burundi, civilians are the primary victims of factional struggles for power and continued conflict.

During the period, considerable advocacy has been undertaken by the humanitarian community on sexual violence in the region - believed not only to be a byproduct of the Great Lakes conflict, but also part of its methodology. Freedom of expression, and for political opposition, also continues to be of concern in the region. Increased press freedom in Rwanda has been a positive sign, yet a Human Rights NGO has also been banned during the period and a number of army officers have fled to Uganda citing persecution at home. Similarly, political dissidents from Uganda have sought refuge in Rwanda. Such movement strains the relations between these countries.

• Health Issues Incidences of epidemic disease, and continued high mortality rates from preventable diseases remain causes for concern in the region, as do the limited availability of health infrastructure (in DRC and Burundi in particular) and, as in Burundi, stringent cost recovery programmes. The latter further curtail access to health care for the poorest. Burundi has, once again, experienced outbreaks of meningitis, and vaccination programmes have been implemented, and Rwanda experienced a serious typhoid outbreak in July. Cholera is endemic in the region, particularly in areas of poor water quality and inadequate sanitation. Malaria remains the biggest killer of all and Tanzania, following receipt of funds from the Global Fund, has stepped up its preventative and treatment programmes. HIV/AIDS prevalence rates are believed high - in Rwanda, for example, these are reported to be 13% - although full assessment across the region has not been possible due to the security situation and absence of health facilities. Prolonged conflict - with the movement or confinement of populations, high incidences of sexual violence, the presence and movement of militias and the erosion of social mores - can only exacerbate this situation.

• Natural Disaster and Food Security While populations affected by conflict tend to be the primary focus of this report, the potential for natural disaster remains. Volcanic activity near Goma - particularly Mt Nyiragongo - is continually monitored. Its status remained 'yellow' (some activity) during the period although no eruption was experienced. Mt Elgon, in Uganda and bordering Kenya, is also under surveillance. Both natural phenomena - erratic rainfall or drought conditions, crop disease - and conflict have continued to affect food security for populations in the region during the period. For example, Burundi has seen manioc crops in Kirundo and Muyinga limited by cassava mosaic disease, while erratic or inadequate rainfall has impacted on food production in Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda with populations in particular areas requiring food assistance. In DRC and northern Uganda in particular, conflict - and sometimes ethnic affiliation - has limited access to land and markets, while vital infrastructure for trade and food relocation has been destroyed or fallen into disrepair. For populations with no ability to produce food or, alternatively, the resources to purchase it, food aid needs remain high, yet persistent problems have been experienced in supplying the food assistance pipeline. Ration cuts were implemented in Tanzania, for example, during the period and some commodities have been in limited supply in Burundi. Pipeline problems are partially due to continued high numbers of refugees and displaced populations, and some populations now needing assistance due to poor harvests. They are also due to the limited resources available for the region as donors face multiple demands on their funds from high profile

7 crises around the world. A report released in July, however, Missing the Point, analyses a number of case studies in the Great Lakes region and questions not only the assumptions underlying some food aid provision in the region, but whether the humanitarian community has pursued the most appropriate and cost-effective ways of achieving sustainable food security.2

Consolidated Appeals and Funding for the Region

The magnitude of the needs of affected populations in the Great Lakes region is almost beyond comprehension. The internally displaced, refugees and returnees, as well as national populations struggling to sustain themselves in their homes in conflict environments or battling to overcome poverty and the ravages of disease all deserve assistance. While national governments should, and must, take responsibility for their own populations, too often resources and even the political will is lacking, and the international community has, therefore, both a humanitarian and development assistance role to play.

Donors have given generously to the Great Lakes - some US$1.6 billion since 20003 - yet too often this region is overshadowed by crises with higher profiles resulting in international attention - and the resources that often accompany this - being allocated elsewhere. Both Burundi and the DRC have been selected as pilot countries for the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative, but a recent report reflects a mixed response and outcome in these countries for the initiative.4 UN Consolidated Appeals (CAPs) were launched for Burundi, DRC, Tanzania and Uganda in 2004, as well as a regional appeal for the Great Lake which covered food needs for three countries and regional support functions. By the end of November, some US$ 368,967,795 (67.24%) of the total amount requested - US$548,712,509 - has been received. At present, this remains some US$33.7 million less than the total amount recorded against the 2003 Appeals, which were 71.33% funded.

In early November, the 2005 Appeals were launched, requesting a total of US$579,576,592 for Burundi, the DRC, Uganda and the Great Lakes regional appeal. The Republic of Congo did not launch an Appeal in 2004, but has requested US$21,960,437 for humanitarian needs - particularly for the Pool region - for 2005. Tanzania, meanwhile, rather than launching a Consolidated Appeal, is preparing a Transitional Strategy to be released early in 2005, which will reflect an integrated approach to addressing the needs of both refugees and refugee-affected areas in western Tanzania.

2 Simon Levine and Claire Chastre, July 2004, Missing the Point: an analysis of food security interventions in the Great Lakes, HPN Network Paper, Number 47. 3 The figures quoted are drawn from the Financial Tracking System and reflects funding to humanitarian projects in the inter-agency Consolidated Appeals for the region. In addition to this, substantial funding has been given outside the appeal framework for both development and humanitarian needs in the region. 4 Adele Harmer, Lin Cotterell and Abby Stoddard, October 2004, From Stockholm to Ottawa: A progress review of the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative, HPG Research Briefing, Number 18. 8 BURUNDI Total Population: 6,874,000 IDPs Location Origin Number Comments (as at July 2004) Bubanza Burundi 3,227 Estimated population in 5 sites Bujumbura Burundi 4,699 Estimated population in 4 sites Mairie Bujumbura Rural Burundi 10,618 Estimated population in 10 sites Bururi Burundi 3,702 Estimated population in 6 sites Cankuzo Burundi 5,947 Estimated population in 5 sites Gitega Burundi 19,005 Estimated population in 17 sites Karuzi Burundi 3,317 Estimated population in 9 sites Kayanza Burundi 14,613 Estimated population in 13 sites Kirundo Burundi 7,452 Estimated population in 16 sites Makamba Burundi 49,737 Estimated population in 47 sites Muramvya Burundi 4,793 Estimated population in 11 sites Muyinga Burundi 7,537 Estimated population in 12 sites Mwaro Burundi 176 Estimated population in 1 sites Ngozi Burundi 7,981 Estimated population in 6 sites Rutana Burundi 688 Estimated population in 3 sites Ruyigi Burundi 1,541 Estimated population in 5 sites Total IDPs: 145,033 In 170 sites

Refugees DRC 10,135 Population in 2 sites in Mwaro and Muyinga DRC 24,865 Estimated population in Bujumbura City. Neither registered nor assisted. Total Refugees: 35,000

Total Affected Population: 180,033 The IDP figures shown above are drawn from the OCHA Burundi Study of Internally Displaced Populations in Burundi, March – July 2004. Since this report, an estimated 25,000 IDPs are believed to have left the sites and returned to their homes. These figures have yet to be verified. In addition, there is an average 30,000 people every month, who may be newly displaced for as little as 24 hours for up to a few months due to, in general, fighting. The main affected zone at this time is Bujumbura Rural.

9

OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS IN BURUNDI Returnees (facilitated and spontaneous as at 82,366 (UNHCR DEC 03) 31.12.03) Returnees (facilitated and spontaneous from 01 85,859 January 2004 – 31 October 2004) HIV/AIDS orphans 230,000* War and conflict related orphans 25,000* Street children 5,000* Child-headed households 5,000* Separated children 7,000*. This figure includes refugees and IDPs and is not limited to unaccompanied children. Disabled children (including mental diseases) 10,577** Total: 450,802 Returnee figures provided by UNHCR; Figures marked * provided by UNICEF, and those marked ** by Handicap International.

Humanitarian Overview Increasing stability and security in areas of Burundi prompted considerable repatriation from Tanzania in the early part of the period as well as the return of significant numbers of internally displaced to their homes. However, continued conflict with the Forces National de Liberation (FNL) in, especially, Bujumbura Rural, precluded the return of some populations to their homes and prompted high levels of temporary displacement. As political tensions mounted due to delayed implementation of stages in the election process and uncertainty over an extended transition, return from Tanzania significantly slowed and some Burundians sought refuge in neighbouring counties. Burundi also still hosts refugees from the DRC, but the massacre of 152 Banyamulenge at the Gatumba site prompted the return to DRC of some of these, despite continued insecurity in their place of origin, and the relocation of others to more secure areas in Burundi. Returnees to Burundi are being reintegrated into home areas, although concerns remain that massive repatriation would strain future absorption capacity. Humanitarian assistance is provided on return, yet socio-economic infrastructure needs considerable investment to underpin further this reintegration and sustainable stability. Chronic food insecurity remains an issue in Burundi - with food production impacted by conflict, poor infrastructure, crop disease and climatic factors. The health status - and access to health services - of much of the population remains poor and the spread of epidemic disease remains a constant threat.

Security The Consolidation of the ceasefire between the Transitional Government and the main rebel group, the CNDD-FDD has continued during the period. On 26 October ONUB, the UN peacekeeping mission which was formally established in Burundi on 1 June and which includes ‘rehatted’ troops of the former African Mission in Burundi (AMIB), announced that it has secured areas in the country, and established three demobilisation centres, where former fighters might lay down their arms. The FNL remains the only rebel group yet to sign any agreement with the Government. While the group briefly declared a unilateral ceasefire in April following a 4-day congress in Kigoma, Tanzania (18-21 April), fighting soon broke out again and has continued between the FNL and Government forces (FAB). Much of this fighting has taken place in Bujumbura Rural, where the continued violence and insecurity has resulted in repeated internal displacement.

The Gatumba Massacre Refugees from the DRC have also been affected by the conflict. On 13 August, the Gatumba Transit site was attached, 152 Congolese civilians were massacred and a further 106 reported injured, with 10 the majority of the victims being Banyamulenge (and often thus categorised as Tutsi). The FNL claimed immediate responsibility for the attack, declaring that the camp contained armed combatants who were planning attacks in Eastern Congo. Despite the FNL statement, Congolese Mai Mai and Rwandan Interahamwe were also rumoured to have played a significant part in the attack. Immediately following the massacre, the FNL was declared a terrorist organisation by Regional Heads of State, who requested that the UN Security Council and African Union explore punitive measures on the organisation’s leadership. The United Nations also severed links with the group and suspended discussions on cease-fire negotiations, while Belgium threatened to arrest FNL spokespeople and representatives. Following wide-ranging research, in both Burundi and eastern DRC, in an investigation authorised by the Security Council, a UN team declared itself unable to identify conclusively the perpetrators – those ‘who authored, financed or carried out the killings’. It recommended further investigation and a judicial inquiry at both national and international levels, led by the Government of Burundi, with cooperation from DRC and Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court respectively.

Political Tension The security implications – and their humanitarian consequences – of political tension have been of concern during the period. Some tangible political progress has been made, including a power-sharing agreement between 20 predominantly Hutu parties made in Pretoria in August, and ratified by regional Heads of State, and the transformation of the CNDD-FDD into a political party. Hopes for peace have resulted in record levels of refugee return from Tanzania since the UNHCR first commenced facilitated repatriation in 2002. Yet discussion among the parties on the draft Constitution has proved heated, and toward the end of the period, uncertainty surrounding the timing of elections, which had originally been scheduled for October 2004, further raised political temperatures between the dominant political blocks (the pro-Tutsi G10 and pro-Hutu G7). The new timetable for the election process was finally announced following a 15 October meeting in Nairobi of Regional Heads of State involved in the Burundi Peace Initiative. This plans for a constitutional referendum on 26 November; local elections on 9 February 2005; legislative elections on 9 March; senatorial elections on 23 March; and presidential elections on 22 April. It remains to be seen, however, how all parties will react to this, particularly opposition parties who remain outside the transition process, and whether any related tension will affect the volatile Burundi political climate and result in further humanitarian consequences. In a hopeful sign, parliament adopted the draft post-transition constitution on 20 October and one candidate – Princess Esher Kamatari of ABAHUZA party - has already applied to stand in the presidential elections. Although UPRONA initially rejected the conclusions of the Nairobi summit, by 31 October it had agreed to recognise the interim Constitution although declared that it would continue to encourage dialogue upon a constitution agreeable to all parties before the late- November national referendum.

Refugee Outflow The political uncertainty during this period seems to have affected repatriation levels while, at the same time, rumours of renewed conflict may have prompted the flight of Burundians into Rwanda and Tanzania. An estimated 2,800 people, mostly Tutsi, were reported to have left Ngozi and Kirundo provinces during the last two weeks of October. Statements by the President, and a visit to Burundians in Rwanda by the Minister of Repatriation, Reinsertion and Reintegration and the Minister of Good Governance appears, however, to have encouraged some return to Burundi. While political discourse over potential ethnic conflict does seem to have been one cause of this flight, economic migration linked to food insecurity is also believed a factor. A number of Burundians (Hutu) have also crossed into Tanzania from Muyinga and Makamba. However, 68 Burundians were prevented from entering Tanzania – and returned to Burundi – by Tanzanian authorities and UNHCR is following this case.

11 Displacement in Bujumbura Rural As one of the few remaining theatres of the continuing confrontation between armed forces and the FNL, the violence and insecurity, principally in the communes of Muhuta, Kabezi and Mutambu, has rendered tens of thousands of people repeatedly displaced in Bujumbura Rural.5 In March/April, sporadic fighting between government forces and the FNL displaced up to 10,000 families (43,000 people) in Kabezi commune. A lull in the fighting in early April was interrupted in the middle of the month, displacing a further 30,000 people.6 Repeated displacement has affected access to farmlands with the net result that the population of Bujumbura Rural is entirely reliant on food assistance from the humanitarian community. Local administrators requested assistance in the wake of repeated FNL attacks in the province. However, throughout the reporting period, intermittent fighting has impacted on distributions in the three key communes affected. At the same time, a number of relief actors are also questioning the suitability of both food and non-food distributions, which may have the negative impact of laying vulnerable populations open to looting and extortion by all forces involved in the conflict. One major NGO has suspended NFI delivery in the three communes of Nyabiraba, Kanyosha and Isale.

By the end of October, the continued displacement of some 10,000 persons in Bujumbura Rural, and the poor conditions in which they live, was of considerable concern and the relocation of this population to a site at a more appropriate distance from ONUB and FAB positions has been mooted. This move could reaffirm their non-combatant status and could improve the level of protection for them. An unknown number of IDPs remain in the so-called ‘stablised’ communes (Kanyosha, Isale, Nyabiraba, east of Bujumbura City) and it is reported that families fear to return to their hills either because of the presence of FDD in the area or because their homes have been occupied by FDD.

Internally Displaced Populations throughout Burundi A survey of internally displaced persons in Burundi, undertaken by OCHA between March and July 2004, has revealed a dramatic decrease in the number of IDPs in sites. When the last comprehensive survey was conducted by UNFPA in 2002, some 281,628 persons were living in 2002. The 2004 survey reveals 145,034 IDPs in 170 sites, most of these being in 4 provinces: Makamba, Gitega, Kayanza and Bujumbura Rural. Since the survey was undertaken, it is estimated that an additional 25,000 returns have taken place – predominantly to Makamba, but to a lesser extent Cankuzo, bringing the numbers of IDPs in sites down to approximately 120,000.

The survey revealed that, of the IDPs remaining in sites, not all wish to return to their places of origin – especially in northern and central provinces – with some 40% preferring to remain where they are. Many are, indeed, within their own communes, or even collines of origin, have access to their own land and can continue some agricultural activity. However, the survey highlighted serious protection concerns for remaining IDPs, including continued insecurity and human rights abuses, especially in Bujumbura Rural. Corruption in the distribution of humanitarian assistance by local officials was alleged, as well as concern over a lack of participation in decision-making. The agency for Cooperation and Development (ACORD) research, undertaken in IDP sites in Burundi and refugee camps in Tanzania and presented in May, on the psychological state of IDPs and returning refugees has revealed the psychological trauma suffered by affected populations as a result of such non-participation and a complete reliance upon humanitarian assistance.

5 For a detailed briefing on the ongoing confrontation between the FAB and the FNL see Human Rights Watch Burundi: Suffering in Silence – Civilians in Continuing Combat in Bujumbura Rural, Briefing Paper, June 2004. 6 The figures of the displaced persons are not cumulative as fighting between the FNL and the government has resulted in cyclic and repeated displacements. 12 Of those who returned, the IDP survey suggests the majority did so in late 2003 and early 2004 as the political and security situation improved, with most returns in Bururi, Makamba, Muramvya, Ngozi and Rutana. Security is reported as being the most compelling factor influencing return, along with community trust and cohesion, housing conditions and availability and access to land. There is a greater reluctance to return among Tutsi populations, most notably in central and northern provinces where inter-ethnic relationships remain fragile.

Recommendations for ‘durable solutions’ include targeted assistance and investment in community- based development in areas of return, as well as physical and legal allocation of parcelles (small land plots) where IDPs wish to settle, and investment in infrastructure and basic services in such areas. Such recommendations reflect recognition by the humanitarian community of the complex and dynamic nature of the IDP situation in Burundi. Also stressed is the continuing need for government and humanitarian actors to achieve common understanding, and related criteria, on IDP status and how long it lasts, what is meant by return and what is appropriate assistance provision. A national level working group has been suggested to address such issues.7

Returnees to Burundi The improved security situation in many parts of the country, save for Bujumbura Rural, as well as the expectation that the country would return to normalcy at the intended October 2004 end of the transitional period, influenced the increased return of refugees from Tanzania since early 2004. As of 31 October, UNHCR Burundi reports that 85,859 refugees have returned in 2004, of whom 80,101 were facilitated and 5,758 spontaneous returnees. The policy of UNHCR during the reporting period has remained that of facilitating rather than promoting the return of refugees from Tanzania into Burundi. A fourth entry point – into Makamba province in the South – was opened in June for the facilitation of return. Refugees targeted to return through this crossing point are from the Mtabila camp, which is host to some 61,830 Burundians. However, towards the end of the period, the pace of repatriation has slowed, with a decrease in average monthly numbers since the end of June.8 Given the current uncertainty surrounding the political and peace processes in the country, it seems unlikely that the initial UNHCR forecast for 2004 of 150,000 returns will be realised. Indeed, the outflow of refugees from Burundi to Tanzania and Burundi for fear of an outbreak of violence related to the extended Transition and election process illustrates how quickly patterns of flight and repatriation can change in response to closely monitored political developments and related rumours.

Return, Reintegration and Rehabilitation The potential absorption capacity of the country for mass repatriation has long been an issue of concern. Attention has been drawn to the potential transformation of returnees into new IDPs, lack of protection and the capacity to provide it, the depletion of social and economic infrastructure as a result of ten years of civil war, as well as the likelihood of disputes related to the reclamation of property and possible retaliatory attacks directed at returnees. The USAID-sponsored report by the African Centre for Technology Studies has highlighted in particular issues relating to land access and refugee repatriation.9 In its conclusions, it stresses that the resolution of land disputes is an essential element of sustainable peace-building in Burundi. Both short-term measures – including the strengthening of institutions such as the Commission Nationale de Rehabilitation des sinistres (CNRS), of dispute-resolution mechanisms, and increased education and advocacy on land issues – as well as the longer-term implementation of comprehensive land policy reform, encouragement for alternative

7 The OCHA Study of Internally Displaced Populations in Burundi, March-July 2004, provides a comprehensive analysis and a wealth of disaggregated data, on the IDP situation. 8 See UN Security Council S/2004/210 para.20. 9 P.M. Kamungi, J.S. Oketch and C.Huggins, Land Access and Refugee Repatriation: The Case of Burundi, African Centre for Technology Studies. 13 livelihoods and related regional economic cooperation may help to achieve this. Intended to improve information available to IDPs and returnees on reinstallation and reinsertion issues, including those related to land and property, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) launched the first of 10 radio- broadcast information programmes on 5 September. NRC also sponsors an interactive theatre group, ‘Twibuke’, which presents awareness-raising performances on IDP rights.

Refugees from DRC The number of Congolese refugees in Burundi fluctuated considerably over the period. At the end of April, there were an estimated 7,775 refugees. However, renewed hostilities in Bukavu in Eastern DRC between government forces and renegade RCD commanders resulted in an influx of 24,000 Congolese, mainly from the Banyamulenge community, into Burundi from Uvira and Bukavu. By the end of June some 30,000 persons had fled the volatile situation in the Kivus, with numbers peaking at 43,000 at the beginning of July. The new arrivals were received mostly in Bujumbura Rural and Cibitoke provinces. Both the Government and UNHCR were concerned at the insecure location of the sites, and particularly the proximity to the DRC border, and, in May, UNHCR had closed the Cishemeye camp in Cibitoke and relocated its residents to Kinama in Muyinga.

These fears were justified when, as detailed above, on 13 August the Gatumba transit site came under attack by a force of armed combatants with the loss of 152 Congolese (Banyamulenge) civilian lives and over a hundred injured. The immediate response by the humanitarian community to the attack included medical and psychological care, family reunification and provision of a range of services at sites of immediate relocation. Since the massacre, the three transit camps located near the Congolese border – Gatumba in Bujumbura Rural and Karurama and Rugombo in Cibitoke – have been dismantled. Only a proportion of the Congolese refugees were willing to be resettled and, during September, 1,346 Congolese refugees were reported to have left Burundi for Rwanda, 2,032 to have returned to the DRC via Gatumba, and an estimated 10,800 to have returned to the DRC by crossing the Ruzizi River from Cibitoke province. The return of refugees to areas around Uvira proved particularly problematic. In late September, some returning Banyamulenge were injured when residents of Uvira threw stones at them. Although the situation in Uvira calmed, as they attempted to return from Burundi some 1,200 persons were held in no-man’s land for several days before the DRC border was opened to receive them. Only limited assistance provision was possible, although UN troops provided protection.

Of the 35,000 Congolese refugees now believed to be in Burundi, 10,135 are now housed in the two sites in Mwaro and Muyinga provinces respectively. This number includes those resettled from the transit sites. The remainder, who are unregistered and are therefore not assisted, are believed to be scattered in Bujumbura city. As the security situation in the DRC has remained extremely volatile throughout the period (see the DRC section of this report), UNHCR is not facilitating repatriation at present.

Food Security and Assistance A nationwide joint Government/Inter-Agency Crop and food Supply Assessment mission (JCFSAM) was conducted between the end of May and the beginning of June to determine the food security and nutritional situation in the country. Overall, the assessment’s findings, released in mid-July, revealed that the country required 41,000 tons of food assistance during the second half of 2004. The requirements are occasioned by the loss of up to 10% of the total national pulses productions comparative to the 2002/2003 season’s harvest. FAO and WFP respectively began the distribution of seeds and seed protection rations in late September for the agricultural season 2005A. The most vulnerable populations – including returnees, the displaced, and people living with HIV/AIDS – are being targeted in the provinces of Kirundo, Muramvya, Mwaro, Ngozi and the environs of Bujumbura. A 14 later nation-wide vulnerability survey conducted by WFP in August – September revealed that 16% of the whole Burundian population suffer chronic food insecurity, while 69% are vulnerable to food insecurity.

A series of provincial assessments carried out during the period identified a number of factors affecting crop production, impacting on food security and resulting in assistance needs. March assessments of end-February hailstorm damage in Muramyva, Ngozi and Karusi concluded that 10,000 people required assistance in Kayanza, 4,200 in Ngozi, while no assistance was required in Muramvya. WFP’s Food Economy Assessment in Ruyigi in May revealed rising food insecurity for the population of three communes affected by hailstorms, floods, and crop as well as animal diseases. A May joint Inter-Agency/Government assessment mission in Kirundo and Muyinga provinces revealed a reduction of manioc crops as a result of the cassava mosaic disease, while a late July assessment by the Institut des Services Agronomique du Burundi (ISABU) revealed a new disease affecting sweet potatoes. In early October, Japan announced a donation of 109 million yen (US$ 999,000) for agricultural inputs for vulnerable groups and support for community initiatives for social recovery, to be implemented by FAO, and intended to assist the restoration of food security. Similarly the International Fund for Agricultural Development has approved a loan for US$ 32.7 million to rebuild livelihoods and restore food security in rural communities.

The provision of food assistance during the period has been affected, as mentioned above, by insecurity, in Bujumbura Rural in particular where fierce skirmishes since early May have hampered access. In addition, serious difficulties have been experienced in resourcing and maintaining the pipeline, particular as this was strained by increased demands for assistance following the arrival of more Congolese refugees. Cereals were affected in March, pulses in April and CSB and oil in late May/early June. In late May/early June, only returnees and refugees received these commodities as a part of their rations. While the situation improved from the beginning of July following the receipt of new donations, including pulses, the oil pipeline remains precarious and breaks are expected in November 2004 for cereals, pulses, salt and CSB and oil in January 2005. WFP issued a warning in early August for remaining pipeline requirements for 2004, and again in October for requirements – valued at USD 5.5 million (9,200 MT of food) through to January 2005. Arrangements are being made to procure cereals and pulses from Tanzania and donations amounting to USD1.9 million were received from the USA and Denmark in August.

Health Medicins sans Frontier (MSF) issued an appeal to the government and the international community to reconsider the cost recovery health system introduced in the country in 2002. The findings of an MSF survey indicated that up to one million people in the country have no access to healthcare and up to another 3 million people have only limited access to medical services.10 The population has to resort to desperate measures, such as asset stripping, in order to access minimal health services. MSF has called for the replacement of the health system with free medical services in the country. More than a decade of civil war has dealt a severe blow to health delivery systems in Burundi and greatly damaged physical infrastructure. Additionally, the civil war has pushed the populations to the extreme margins of poverty, rendering them nearly completely incapable of affording healthcare under the current health system. The UN Population Fund’s 2004 report, released in September, details a maternal mortality rate for Burundi of 855 deaths per 100,000 births, and only 20.1% of women deliver their children in health structures.11 HIV/AIDS prevalence rates are high – the director of

10 For the full Medecins San Frontier (MSF) Report on the Healthcare system in Burundi, please see: http://www.msf.org/source/front/2004/burundireport.htm 11 UNFPA, The Cairo Consensus at Ten: Population, Reproductive Health and the Global Effort to End Poverty. 15 Rwibaga Hospital in Bujumbura Rural reported 17% sero-prevalance rates – and malaria remains the major killer with a morbidity rate of 45.67% during an epidemic.

WHO has continued its vaccination activities in the country, assisting the population and complimenting the minimally available health services and the dilapidated health care infrastructure. One of the perennial health problems in Burundi is that of meningitis, an outbreak of which occurred in mid August in Ngozi and Kayanza provinces, and in late September in Rutana. WHO undertook to vaccinate up to 1,353,000 people against a potential epidemic in the first outbreak, and a further 31,000 in the second. WHO is looking to support Ministry surveillance, reporting, data collection, response capacity and epidemic management for future outbreaks. Cholera has also been of concern. By 30 October, 160 cases and one death had been reported in Rumonge since the start of an outbreak on 12 October. Medical assistance has been provided by the humanitarian community, which is also exploring long-term solutions, with the national water authority, to reduce the recurrence of such epidemics.

Considerable attention is being given to cross-border coordination on health issues for repatriation, including the availability and type of health services available throughout the process, how these might be improved and the current gaps and challenges. WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR and the Governor of Makamba hosted a second cross-border meeting for Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS and sexual and gender-based violence in Makamba in late September.

Child Soldier Demobilisation UNICEF has reported that, since January 2004, 2,270 child soldiers have been demobilised and reintegrated into communities throughout Burundi in a process managed by the National Structure for the Demobilisation, Reinsertion and Reintegration of Child Soldiers. The majority of the children demobilised so far were engaged in the FAB or civil defence units, but coordinators from five former rebel groups have now been trained and are part of the demobilisation structure. The CNDD-FDD has now officially joined the process, and a coordinator from this group will also undergo training in order to start the identification of children from their forces.

Education A campaign for universal education was launched by the Government, supported by UNICEF, on 17 September and a ‘back-to-school’ campaign on 14 October. The latter targets 440,000 children through the distribution of school material, support to school canteens and the rehabilitation and equipping of schools. It is hoped that this campaign will boost the net school enrolment rate, which is currently only 56%, with 13% more boys enrolled than girls. A number of factors affect children’s access to schooling in Burundi, where education is neither mandatory nor free. In Bujumbura Rural, for example, some classrooms in Kabezi towns are occupied by IDPs, and some families of IDP children cannot afford either the school fees or uniforms and materials.

Funding Humanitarian Organisations appealed for USD 119 million in the CAP 2004. As at October 2004, USD 37.1 has been received. This represents 31.2% of the total requirements. Levels of funding across appealing agencies appear uneven, with both OCHA and WFP receiving a high percentage of their requirements – 100% and 86% respectively – while some organisations have received nothing. However, reported funding of humanitarian projects outside the CAP amounts USD 32.4 million. Burundi is a pilot country for the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) initiative and, in a meeting of key donors in Bujumbura in mid-October, improvements were noted in the Burundi CAP process – especially in needs assessment, priority identification and NGO involvement. The CAP 2005 for Burundi, launched in November, requests US$134,171,865 for humanitarian programmes.

16 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT LOCATION IDP FIGURES RETURNEES COMMENTS Equateur 165,000 Kasai 95,000 Including +/- 40,000 expelled from Angola Katanga 260,000 360,000 Including Tanganyika district Maniema 165,000 North Kivu 785,000 Including Grand Nord Orientale 455,000 260,000 Including Ituri South Kivu 200,000 329,000 Kinshasa, Bandundu, 45,000 Including +/- 3,000 expelled from Bas Congo Angola

TOTAL 2,170,000 949,000

These figures are estimates representing a consolidation of data furnished by various provincial commissions on population movements as well as reports of various evaluation missions.

REFUGEES

Origin: Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan, CAR, 227,00012 The highest proportion of refugees RoC and Uganda. are currently from Angola, but TOTAL Refugees 227,000 repatriation planning is on-going. TOTAL AFFECTED POPULATION (IDPs and 2,397,000

Refugees)

OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS Population affected by food insecurity 42,000,00013 TOTAL Other Vulnerable Groups 42,000,000

Humanitarian Overview The humanitarian situation in the DRC remains of considerable concern. Insecurity and repeated skirmishing among militia groups, between the various armed factions and the new national army, even against MONUC peacekeepers, have served to displace and re-displace thousands of civilians, particularly in the areas around Goma and in the Kivus. The expulsion of Congolese refugees and migrants from Angola and recently from Uganda has also given cause for concern. Simmering ethnic tensions, particularly along the border areas, have occasionally flared up with sometimes deadly consequences. Humanitarian access remains a problem, as does the insufficient capacities of the aid organizations trying to respond to the many and diverse needs as they occur – and re-occur. Populations are being displaced not only once but repeatedly, and humanitarian actors scramble to keep up with the needs on all sides. Although most humanitarian concern is focused on the eastern part of the country, the rest of the country also faces vulnerabilities. In areas such as Equateur Province and western parts of Province Orientale, where security has stabilized, the lack of a well-resourced strategy for transition between emergency and development needs often results in a reversal of the gains already realized. Too often, populations find themselves sinking into a situation of vulnerability because of lack of services and facilities. Poor infrastructure often prohibits the delivery of

12 Refugees figures are as of October 2004, source: CAP 2005. 13 Figure from CAP 2005. 17 assistance in other areas such as the Kasais and Bandundu Province and greater numbers of people find themselves in humanitarian situations that closely mirror those of their compatriots in Eastern DRC.

Political Context The humanitarian situation is the DRC is heavily dependent upon developments in the political and military sphere. The political situation is currently shaped by the delays in the full implementation of the transition, with the timetable set out in Pretoria being way behind schedule. Although the political hardliners seem to be consolidating their power and are perhaps encouraged in this by external forces, the effect that this will have on the transition may be somewhat exaggerated given the strong international pressure in favour of a successful process. Nevertheless, some achievements have been noted, specifically the adoption of the Independent Electoral Commission Law which included the creation of the Independent Election Committee. The IEC has been criticized however as having provided for a bloated structure that is conducive to manipulation and the Transitional Government has been urged to revise the law. Furthermore, when the IEC released a calendar for transitional elections to be held in July 2005, there was some speculation that respecting this timetable could prove difficult and the government may be forced to invoke one or both of the six-month delay periods provided for in the Pretoria Accord. Other hurdles remain for the election schedule, namely the lack of census and the lack of real interest on the part of several of the political hardliners to see proper elections take place.

In accordance with the transitional plan, power-sharing of military and provincial authorities has been proceeding, albeit not without some friction. Administrative and military power-sharing are not always synchronized and this gives rise to shifting alliances, military jockeying for allegiance and general insecurity. For example, the allocation of the province of South Kivu to the political opposition, while perhaps a good move for the transition, was not a popular move for the RCD that has traditionally controlled this province. Similarly, RCD Goma’s assigned control over Ituri in Province Orientale was less popular with the other RCD groups, especially those groups who are allegedly linked to Uganda. The resulting delay in the provision of a functioning local administration to address the questions of land ownership, justice, citizenship and inter-communitarian cohabitation has had implications for the stability in the country.

The integration of the national army – and establishment of zones of authority – has also proved problematic. In August 2003, the former belligerents in the DRC agreed the division of the DRC into military zones, allocating the 10 military regions as follows: three regions to the former Kinshasa government; two to RCD-Goma and MLC; and one region each to RCD-Kisangani/Mouvement de liberation and RCD-National, and one to the Mayi-Mayi militias. This was intended to facilitate the formation of a unified army, incorporating elements of the former Kinshasa government and all former rebel groups. Nevertheless, continued mistrust among the different parties involved (military, militias and politicians) has translated into a lack of field-level coordination, prompting shifting alliances and regional power plays that continue to influence prospects for peace in eastern areas of Congo in particular, and the transition in general. Clashes between regiments of the FARDC and elements of the Mayi-Mayi and/or other armed groups also highlight the perils of the slow disarmament; too many are left in the in- between situation of being neither integrated into the new army or civilians although still having access to weapons. With no acceptable status they do not qualify for humanitarian assistance and a failure to address their situation creates an environment conducive to the simultaneous re-grouping of soldiers. To date, only 651 militiamen have been disarmed in the process, in a programme seeking to disarm some 9,000 combatants. On September 1st, the DDR process began in eastern DRC with official ceremonies and the opening of the cantonment sites and it is hoped that this milestone will serve to stabilize the overall security situation and give more momentum to the transitional processes. Yet the potential numbers for disarmament are considerable, with armed groups in Ituri, for example, claiming they number 39,000.

18 President Kabila’s invitation to the ICC to investigate the war crimes committed in the eastern part of the country brought some hope that the long-standing impunity enjoyed by some of the military actors would be removed. At the same time, this request challenged the transition since the new government is comprised of many who bore arms and led military campaigns during the war. Nevertheless, it was clarified that only crimes committed since 2002 would be investigated. This decision has not proved popular with Congo’s neighbours who are apprehensive that they may be brought to task for their role in the conflict. Uganda’s president Museveni has spoken out openly against these investigations and considers that the DRC should focus more on successful transition and less on investigations.

Thus, there still remain considerable challenges for transition. The mutual mistrust shown among the parties to it constrains their real, and transparent, cooperation. Establishing an integrated military structure with one central command requires the abandonment of parallel factional command structures. This, in turn, means that political/military players in the government will have to show greater commitment to the transition and relinquish their traditional power bases. Thus far, this has not happened.

Security Issues Transitional concerns impact directly on security, while, conversely, continuing insecurity in the eastern part of the country not only threatens the transition process but has serious humanitarian consequences. The above-mentioned composition of the national army and integration of the armed militias into its ranks has given rise to security issues that most impact upon humanitarian action in Eastern DRC. Compounding this has been the reluctance on the part of several military factions to surrender their territorial authority, actions which fueled some of the minor revolts that continue to destabilize that part of the country. This is evidenced by a series of incidents in the Kivus and in Ituri. Bukavu, in South Kivu, has been the focus of a power struggle between the transitional government authorities and the military commanders of the FARDC (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo) – the new integrated national army of the DRC. In May, the situation in Bukavu deteriorated sharply pitting the insurgent forces of General Laurent Nkunda (linked to the RCD-Goma faction) against those of MONUC (the UN peacekeeping force) and the FARDC. Nkunda’s forces along with his allies managed to take control of Bukavu for several days until MONUC and the FARDC regained control following Nkunda's withdrawal without fighting them. In the process, dozens of lives were lost and thousands were displaced, some of these fleeing across the border to Burundi and Rwanda. Rwanda sealed its borders and made strong pronouncements that they would intervene to ‘protect’ the Congolese Tutsi population – the Banyamulenge - in and around Bukavu. In June, there was an attempted coup against President Joseph Kabila and some observers also linked this to the unresolved tensions in the East.

The actions of ’spoilers’ such as Nkunda and his ally, Jules Mutebusi, tend to promote ethnic hatred and fail to protect the interests of the local communities. General Nkunda is thought to represent the military side of RCD’s most radical wing, opposed to any peaceful plan in the DRC. Although he claims to be trying to protect the Banyamulenge population and uses this as a pretext for his military movements, his actions undermine the peace efforts and he stirs ethnic rivalries. After the Bukavu crisis, in spite of accusations being traded between Rwanda and the DRC – including rancorous statements being made against MONUC and the UN for their inability to control the situation in the Kivus - a fragile calm was achieved in Bukavu if not elsewhere. Considerable international pressure was brought to bear on the two governments and on the political-military factions involved to respect national borders and to keep the transition on track. This situation prevailed until August when more than 150 Banyamulenge refugees in the Gatumba camp in Burundi were massacred. Although responsibility was claimed by forces of the FNL (Forces Nationales pour la Liberation) – a Burundian rebel group - the presence of Interahamwe and ex-FAR (Forces Armées du Rwanda) militias was also alleged, but has not been proven. Widely credited for having been the leading perpetrators in the Rwandan genocide in 1994, the continued armed presence of these two groups in the DRC sustains the

19 friction between the two countries and their potential involvement in the Gatumba massacre brought denunciations from Rwanda of the ability of the Kinshasa government to exert political and military control in the eastern part of the country. Burundi closed its border; Rwanda again threatened to enter the DRC to protect the Banyamulenge populations but this time DRC Vice President Azarias Ruberwa – also the chairman of the RCD-Goma, a former rebel group - pulled his party out of the transitional government. South Africa, Belgium, the European Union and the UN exerted considerable diplomatic pressure once more, the crisis was stabilized and RCD-Goma re-joined the government. Nevertheless, anti-Tutsi tensions in the eastern part of the DRC continue to simmer and the Kivus enjoy only an uneasy calm. Relations with Rwanda in particular continue to be tense and despite recent accords and protocols signed, remain the predominant influence on stability.

Relations with Neighbours In spite of the tensions, or maybe because of them, DRC nevertheless is consolidating positive gains in its relations with its neighbours, particularly with Rwanda and Uganda. In the wake of the events in the Kivus, there have been ministerial interchanges and the presidents have met on key occasions: in Abuja, at high level meetings in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings and recently, in Kampala. The three governments have signed a tripartite agreement on the establishment of a regional security mechanism in the Great Lakes; previously, they had also agreed to disarm and repatriate militias from each other’s countries, setting up a commission to verify this process. Additionally, MONUC and the ONUB (respective UN peacekeeping missions in DRC and Burundi) have agreed to monitor arms movements across borders and this will be carried out along with representatives of the three governments. At the same time, Uganda has accused the DRC government of facilitating arms movements from Sudan to Ugandan rebel groups supposedly active in Province Orientale in the DRC. Although both Sudan and the DRC have denied the accusations, the tensions between DRC and all its neighbours continue to simmer, albeit on a lower level. The hope is that continued dialogue, within the transitional government and between DRC and its neighbours, will eventually bring peace in the Congo. To this end, progress in various peace building initiatives, such as the International Conference for Peace, Security and Development in the Great Lakes Region, unstinting international diplomatic pressure on all parties to the transition and the general war- weariness of the population may yield a positive result: a peaceful and stabilised Great Lakes Region.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Internal Displacement The DRC has one of the highest IDP figures in Africa, a situation that is further compounded by the repeated displacement of populations in the east. For many years, the insecurity in the region ‘hid’ the vulnerable from those attempting to bring succour. Concerted and active advocacy by the humanitarian community has helped to increase humanitarian space in some areas, such as Walikale, Lubutu, Baraka, Fizi and Manguedijipa, while MONUC's expanded presence has also contributed to this. Despite this, the capacities of the humanitarian actors are limited, as are the resources brought to bear on the relief effort. DRC’s long-running conflict is itself displaced by other newer or more media- friendly crisis in the region or in the world. Yet on any particular day, there are reports of conflict- induced displacement in one part of the region of eastern Congo or another. As of August 2004, the total number of IDPs in DRC was estimated at 2.3 million, down approximately 700,000 from the same period last year. This number masks the constraints posed to humanitarian action when localized conflicts erupt and abate, populations flee and return, and the response is in constant flux. In the Kivus during the months of September and October for example, there were 7,736 individuals and 18,714 families newly displaced in Kalehe, Butembo, Mangungu and Rutshuru; at the same time, there were 18,915 displaced who had returned to their homes in Bukavu, Numbi, Shanje and Walikale. When combats force displacement, the population often has little notice and flees with little or nothing. When they return, they do so to looted homes, they are often harassed along the way and stripped of their belongings so they come back to nothing with nothing. Responding to their needs becomes a

20 treadmill that severely constrains the over-stretched relief agencies’ capacities. This constant population movement is also experienced in Ituri.

Refugees The DRC has signed two tripartite agreements with UNHCR and the respective countries for the return of Congolese refugees from the Central African Republic (62,000 Congolese) and from the Republic of Congo (72,000). Also in October, the Governor of South Kivu announced the return of 3,600 Congolese refugees from camps in Tanzania, a return that he hopes will help to dilute the tensions that arose when 1,618 refugees from Burundi, including Gatumba, decided to return to Bukavu. It is not clear when the refugees from Tanzania will return but, in the meantime, the mainly Banyamulenge refugees from Gatumba were initially placed in transit camps after their attempts to return were blocked by popular demonstrations in Bukavu, but later repatriated to their villages of origin. UNHCR and the National Commission for Repatriation are planning to open offices in Uvira, in response to a spontaneous influx of Congolese returnees from Tanzania. So far, some 148 new returnees were registered in Uvira and 5,348 households were registered in Fizi.

Around mid-year, the government of Angola decided to expel more than 100,000 Congolese migrant miners working in Angola. This sudden massive return to Bandundu and Kasai Occidental Provinces triggered considerable humanitarian concern. First of all, there were reports of human rights abuses by the Angolan authorities and later on by the Congoleses border authorities. The expellees were often strip-searched and allegations of sexual violence were commonplace. Furthermore, the provinces to which the miners were expelled are remote areas lacking most of the amenities and facilities that could support such a large movement of population. Humanitarian workers once again struggled to respond to the needs under extremely difficult circumstances. Infrastructure was lacking, resources were scarce and any action in the southwestern part of the country naturally diverted personnel and funds away from the trouble spots in the east.

A similar situation is developing in Province Orientale. In October the Ugandan authorities expelled some 11,000 Congolese fleeing the multitude of clashes and militia movements in the Congo. In Ituri some 11,000 households of IDPs and 4,000 households expelled from Uganda receive food aid and other humanitarian assistance. These Congolese had been in Uganda but, having refused to be registered and put into the refugee camps, had in fact remained in host communities close to the border areas. One of the Ugandan concerns is that fluid refugee movement across borders could mask possible incursions from Ugandan rebel groups purported to be active in that part of the Congo.

Sexual Violence The incidence of sexual and gender-based violence in the DRC, particularly the use of rape as a weapon of war by all armed groups in the eastern part of the country has recently been highlighted. Rape remains a threat in post-conflict settings, and this has certainly been so in the transitional phase of the DRC. Levels of insecurity and of sexual violence clearly correlate, so although full-scale war has ended, prevailing insecurity in the east means a continuation of sexual violations. Rapes of females from 10 months to 80+ years have been reported, yet are thought to represent only a fraction of actual incidents. Despite widespread recognition of the problems, response is slow and limited. The medical consequence of sexual violence can be extremely serious and even fatal. In addition to physical injuries, which may also affect fertility, rape – particularly by multiple perpetrators - increases the risk of contracting and transferring HIV/AIDs or other sexually-transmitted diseases. Treatment and care facilities may be few or inaccessible, and administration of post-exposure prophylaxes may not be possible as a result. The serious psychological effects and trauma – fear, anxiety, and inability to cope - are difficult to quantify, and vital psycho-social care is even more limited, or may lack adequate cultural sensitivity. Organisations have tried to respond to psycho-social needs through counseling and training for care-givers, but services are limited in scope and under- resourced.

21

Advocacy campaigns to focus international attention on rape, its consequences and the limited care available for victims have been undertaken by several organizations – IRIN, for example, has released a video CD and webspecial on gender-based violence during conflict, focusing on DRC and Liberia, and Amnesty International has outlined the extent of the problem and the urgent need for health, medical and psycho-social care14. As the IRIN CD highlights, issues of impunity form another focus for advocacy and legal action since so few perpetrators are ever brought to justice. Military and militia members seem unaware that rape is a war crime and punishable as such; and if they do know, to shift blame to the enemy group. No-one claims responsibility and ‘sympathetic’ authorities blame rebel militias outside their control. Women in Eastern DRC know of only one perpetrator who has ever been convicted. Further complicating issues of sexual violence is rape-associated cultural stigma: doubly- victimised, a woman undergoes physical violence then family or community ostracism. Most women prefer to keep quiet because there is little sense in reporting a violation when care and treatments is neither easily accessed, nor readily available and the culture of impunity prevails. Communities themselves seem resigned to the extent of sexual violence, and the little, if any, support available to survivors, their families or communities. In many instances, the perpetrators are still in and around the community and may threaten the victim or her family of further exactions if they are reported. Humanitarian workers seeking to provide assistance have also been threatened. Developing ownership of the issue is an important step towards helping communities to address sexual violence because women victims of sexual violence in the DRC are in a lose-lose situation.

Increasing concern is being voiced over the growing presence of a new vulnerable group: babies and children resulting from rape. Most especially, children are rejected by their families and communities, even by their mothers, in instances where the rape is carried out by another – often a rival - ethnic group. Children that are the fruit of cross-ethnic liaisons, violent or otherwise, are being abandoned in growing numbers and addressing their needs is complicated by them not being claimed by either ethnic group.

Health The health situation continues to deteriorate, despite the attention for humanitarian needs in the health sector. War and the consequences of insecurity have increased the populations’ risk and exposure to diseases and epidemics, as has the lack of funding for the minimum package directed against the seven leading diseases. The weakness of surveillance systems also played a role in the recorded diseases’ and epidemics’ outbreaks. Overarching these concerns is the deplorable state of health infrastructure and services in the eastern part of the DRC. Nevertheless, aid agencies struggle to deal with regularly recurring diseases such as malaria even as the constant population movements also regularly trigger cholera outbreaks. With every assessment that is conducted to evaluate new displacement, health needs are said to predominate. The price of many basic drugs, even though subsidized by some aid agencies, still remains beyond the financial capacity of the majority of the population. This may be seen as a structural problem but as long as insecurity prevails and vulnerabilities exist, humanitarian actors will need to continue emergency health interventions.

Food Security As with all the other sectors of humanitarian need, food security has been negatively impacted by the insecurity and clashes that prevail in eastern DRC. In other parts of the country where security has stabilized, the lack of a transitional strategy from emergency to development has sometimes served to nullify the achievements realized on either side of the divide. Nevertheless, WFP and other humanitarian partners continue to deliver vital food aid and other relief to as many of the vulnerable population as possible. However, a recent Humanitarian Practice Network of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) report analyzing food security interventions in the Great Lakes Region has pointed out

14 IRIN, ‘Our Bodies . . . Their Battleground’, and Amnesty International ‘Mass Rape: Time for Remedies’. 22 inherent weaknesses in the assumptions underlying such interventions in the region and their impact. It concludes that the humanitarian system too often relies on standard sets of food security interventions without adequate analysis as to their appropriateness in different circumstances. Most especially, the over-reliance on food aid as the response option comes without considering the cost effectiveness of food aid over other alternatives15.

CAP STATUS On 11 November 2004, humanitarian and other organizations in the DRC launched an appeal totaling US$185,394,640 for emergency assistance in 2005 for vulnerable population. Funding for the 2004 appeal stands at 62.4% or $101,429,049 while funding received outside of the appeal totaled US$87,775,058 on 8 November 2004.

15 Simon Levine and Claire Chastre, Missing the Point: An Analysis of Food Security Interventions in the Great Lakes, HPN number 47, July 2004 23

RWANDA Total Population: 8.16 million

REFUGEES

LOCATION ORIGIN FIGURES COMMENTS

Kigeme camp Burundi 1,170 increase Gihembe camp DR Congo 18,072 increase Kiziba camp DR Congo 16,220 increase Kigali Mixed – mainly DRC & BDI 2,299 stable Nyagatare transit DR Congo 1,700 increase (awaiting transfer) centre Total 39,461

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPs)

IDPS assisted by Government 4,158 Total Affected Population (Refugees + IDPs) 43,619

OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS IN RWANDA

Urban asylum seekers 3,030

Children in Centres pour Enfants Non-Accompagnes (CENAS) 3,475

Minors in prison 90016

Street Children 3,00017

Children in Child-Headed Households (CHHs) 101,00018

Food insecure 300,000 – 400,00019

Detainee figures 83,500

Orphans 1,200,00020

HIV/AIDS victims at the end of 2001 500,00021

Persons in inadequate shelter (180,000 families) 900,00022

Total: 3,094,905 - 3,194,905

16 This figure represents children in prison, (i.e. currently aged under 18 years) and does not include the group of those who were 14-18 at the time of genocide and are now young adults in prison. If this group is included, the figure increases to 4,500 17 This figure is a rough estimate – GoR estimates are 6,000-8,000 18 Source: 2002 Census 19 Based on the WFP Food Security draft for August 2004 20 Save the Children UK - Rwanda 21 Figures include those of adults and children. Source : UNAIDS – www.unaids.org 22 Government figures, citing by IRIN, 5 October 2004, and reflected in the Norwegian Refugee Council, Profile of Internal Displacement: Rwanda, at http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2004/nrc-rwa-28oct.pdf

24 RETURNEES23

LOCATION ORIGIN FIGURES

DRC Rwanda 6,234

Tanzania Rwanda 22

Burundi Rwanda 159

Uganda Rwanda 1,945

Zambia Rwanda 20

RoC Rwanda 38

Other Rwanda 39

Total Number of Returnees 8,457

Humanitarian Overview Some positive political progress continues to be made in Rwanda, particularly in forwarding crucial judicial reform, increasing press freedom, implementing Gacaca, developing a national land policy and – with international assistance – tackling issues of poverty and socio-economic development. It is hoped that such developments will translate into positive benefits for some of the affected populations, such as the 83,500 persons still detained in prison and awaiting trial. There remain, however, some concerns in relation to freedom of expression for political opposition, and the promotion of human rights. In addition, the sentencing of former President Pasteur Bizimungu to 15 years imprisonment for violating state laws, including embezzlement of state funds, has the potential to prompt some local unrest. At the same time, the role that Rwanda plays in the region, especially in its somewhat tense relations with neighbouring countries during the period under review, as well as developments and events in those countries themselves, have implications for the humanitarian situation in the country. Both the Gatumba massacre in August and tension over the delayed election schedule in Burundi have led to an outflow of refugees from this country to Rwanda. Similarly, factional fighting in the DRC has prompted an influx of Congolese into Rwanda also. Rwanda continues to encourage its own nationals – refugees in countries of the region and further afield – to return home, but with limited success. Such refugees have cited cases of on-going insecurity in Rwanda and lack of land – and related tensions – as reasons for their reluctance to return. Food security in the country continues to remain of concern despite the Government’s assurances of a sustained supply of food in food-producing areas that will, in turn, prove beneficial for the food insecure population.

Regional Political and Security Situation Rwanda has once again expressed serious concern over its security following attacks on its territory. The government is convinced that as long as the Hutu militias operate unchecked, then this continues to present serious instability concerns not only for Rwanda but for the rest of the countries in the Great Lakes region. The DRC has been slow to implement a South African-brokered peace deal reached in 2002, under which it was supposed to disarm the rebels in return for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the country. On 8 April, Rwanda reported attacks in its territory, mainly in the southern parts of Nyungwe Forest and in the north in areas of Gisenyi and Ruhengeri. The attacks were allegedly carried out by FDLR forces based in eastern DRC. In response, Rwanda both deployed and regrouped its troops along its borders with neighbouring to guard against further attacks by interahamwe militia.

23 Returnee figures provided by UNHCR, with effect July 2004. 25 Events in DRC and Burundi have also prompted either allegations of Rwandan involvement, or a reaction from Rwanda. Conflict around Bukavu, Eastern DRC, in May saw the DRC accusing Rwanda’s forces of supporting dissident Congolese soldiers in the temporary takeover of this town in the South Kivu province. Furthermore, a report issued in July by the UN Panel of Experts repeated this accusation. Rwanda vehemently denied the allegations and instantly (following DRC’s accusations) announced that it had closed its border with DRC. The resulting month-long border closure had consequences for the communities in these border areas as it disrupted their regular economic and social exchange. Prices for several consumer goods were reported to have more than doubled during the month. The situation however returned to normal after both countries announced the re-opening of the border. In August, the Gatumba massacre of mainly Banyamulenge refugees in Burundi prompted Rwanda to threaten intervention in DRC once again in order to disarm the Hutu rebels rumoured to have been implicated in this. A Burundian rebel group, the FNL, had claimed responsibility for the attacks, but both Burundi and Rwanda suggested that extremist Hutu militias based in eastern DRC were party to the killings. Despite UN investigation, the identity of the perpetrators remains unclear.

In an attempt to resolve on-going tension between Rwanda and DRC, President Kagame officially requested the presence of a third-party verification mechanism along the borders of the two countries. The issue was discussed in June under the aegis of Nigerian President and Chairman of the AU, President Olusegun Obasanjo. Following the mediated talks both DRC and Rwanda resolved to set up “a Joint Verification Mechanism” to examine the border security issues of both countries. The mechanism, planned for launch in October, will be comprised of experts from the governments of the two countries as well as the UN and the African Union. In a further positive development, in August the governments of Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC pledged to cooperate in disarming rebel groups (Interahamwe/ex-FAR). The programme is meant to be completed within a year. So far, MONUC has repatriated nearly 11,000 foreign ex-combatants and their families, half of them Rwandans.

Refugee Arrivals As result of on-going conflict and tension in both Burundi and DRC, an increase in the number of refugees from both countries has been recorded in refugee camps in the country. As of 8 October 2004, refugee numbers in Rwandan camps stood at 40,546 representing an increase from the figure of 34,309 reported in May 2004. An influx of Congolese refugees was received from Bukavu in June, and, in response, UNHCR increased its presence in the Rwanda’s western province of Cyangugu, At least 3,000 refugees were recorded at Cyangugu as fighting between factional units of the Congolese army reached its peak in Bukavu. A number of the refugees were sheltered at the Nyagatare transit centre in Cyangugu. Currently an estimated 1,700 Congolese remain at the transit centre. UNHCR, WFP, local authorities and NGOs have provided additional relief supplies such as emergency rations including blankets and jerry cans, to boost existing stocks at the Nyagatare center.

Approximately 1,660 Burundian refugees have been received at the Ngenda transit camps since the beginning of the refugee influx in early October. As of 5 November, the caseload stood at 1,100 refugees as some 560 persons had already repatriated voluntarily to Burundi. Of 1,170 Burundian refugees hosted in Kegeme camp in Gikogoro, 700 have registered with UNHCR for repatriation and the registration process is continuing. The transit centre of Butare at Kikonko accommodates some 1,075 Burundian refugees.

Contingency Planning and Preparedness The humanitarian community in Rwanda has been working to enhance its preparedness to deal with the potential humanitarian consequences of events in the region, as well as of natural disasters. An inter- agency contingency planning exercise started in August to explore possible in-country humanitarian responses, particularly in relation to any developments in the Kivus. The context analysis and risk assessment outlined several key determining factors that could strongly influence humanitarian trends

26 in Rwanda. These include the results of the peace processes in DRC and Burundi; changing weather patterns and subsequent food shortages; epidemic outbreaks in remote areas of the country; political and economic developments in Rwanda and the evolution of the domestic political situation; political inclusiveness or lack thereof. Coordination structures were agreed, in addition to plans for activation in order to ensure a timely response in the event of a crisis.

Repatriation to Rwanda The Rwandan Government has continued its efforts to encourage the return of its nationals who had sought asylum or migrated abroad. In June, UNHCR began the repatriation of Rwandan refugees in the Republic of Congo. 20 Rwandans were flown home. The caseload had been living in the ROC mainly in the northern and central regions of Sangha and Cuvette, as well as in the southern part of the capital, Brazzaville since 1997. UNHCR reports that approximately 5,000 Rwandan refugees remain in ROC, including 700 at the agency's Kintele camp, 26 km outside Brazzaville. As a result of somewhat different circumstances, in July UNHCR repatriated 283 people to Rwanda in a case involving second- generation Rwandan immigrants living in the eastern DRC town of Kalehe. According to an official in Cyangugu in Rwanda, the case-load includes Congolese nationals, some with national identification, but who had been forced out of their own country. However, an official of UNHCR commented that the group was actually composed of second-generation Rwandans whose parents had emigrated to DRC to work as farmers or miners.

Despite the considerable efforts to encourage return, both by Rwandan Government officials and – where a Tripartite Agreement is in place, by UNHCR - the rate of return has been limited. Refugee caseloads remain in neighbouring countries such as Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and the Republic of Congo. In explaining their reluctance to repatriate, refugees have cited on-going insecurity and lack of land in Rwanda. Some have taken action to avoid return. Recent cases involve refugees in Namibia who fled the Osire refugee camp to avoid potential repatriation later this year. In April, HCR in Namibia announced that it would undertake a verification mission to confirm these reports. According to a tripartite agreement between UNHCR and the governments of Namibia and Rwanda signed in September 2003, some 612 Rwandan refugees were expected to be voluntarily repatriated in June. The Namibian authorities have indicated that they were unaware of the complaints raised by the Rwandan refugees. In addition, Zambia has reported on the reluctance of some Rwandan refugees in Zambia to return home. Zambian officials indicate that, despite continued assurances of peace in Rwanda, some Hutu refugees have raised concerns about alleged persecution by authorities and the local community. Internal political, social and economic factors can thus be seen to play a major role in decision-making on return.

Justice and Reconciliation The Rwandan government, together with civil society, has continued to further the reconciliation process and unity among the Rwandan population. One element of this is much-needed judicial reform and a number of processes have been initiated in order to strengthen the judicial system. Rwandan citizens recently voted to elect some 18,540 officials to serve on mediation committees, known locally as Abunzi, charged with handling disputes between members of the public before such cases are placed before national courts of law. The committees will only handle minor cases such as land and family disputes. The mediation committees are expected to help reduce the number of cases filed in national courts, which are already burdened by a backlog of the 1994 genocide-related cases. In the same vein, in July Rwandan authorities sacked some 503 judges and appointed 223 replacements for the national court system. This is the first major judicial reshuffle and is intended to improve performance and weed out corruption and inefficiency. Training on Rwanda's new laws, procedures and code of ethics has also begun for appointed judges. The replaced judges lacked the necessary qualifications and experience required under the new judicial reforms, which are the first to be implemented since the country gained independence some 42 years ago. An additional 128 judges are expected to be appointed before the end of the year to add to the 223 judges already sworn in. Under

27 the new reforms, Rwanda will have a total of 351 judges. A number of the dismissed judges may be given other responsibilities within the judicial system.

Implementation of Gacaca, a nationwide traditional court system through which thousands of persons suspected of taking part in the 1994 genocide will be tried, has also been a major development during the period. The launch, by President Paul Kagame in early June, follows a two-year trial period that was intended to identify and correct weaknesses in the system. The spokesman for the National Service of Gacaca Jurisdictions has commented that amendments had been made following experiences from the trial runs of the gacaca courts which were conducted in 751 of the nation's 9,010 legal jurisdictions. There are currently some 80,000 suspects awaiting trial in Rwandan detention facilities, while reports from Rwanda’s prosecutor general indicate that an estimated figure of between 500,000 and 600,000 suspects of the genocide are said to be at large. Figures of genocide suspects are based on information collected from the first phase of gacaca trial runs. The Rwandan parliament has also amended the gacaca law, decreasing the number of judges from 258,209 to 169,400; reduced the number of judges in each courtroom from 19 to nine; and scrapped the highest two levels of the gacaca court system. As part of the legitimization of these traditional courts, local Gacaca judges will soon be undergoing formal training in information gathering, communication skills, report writing and mediation skills.

An international role in responding to the legacy of the genocide is still encouraged. Calls have recently been made for the establishment of an international fund to cater for reparations to victims of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. UN member countries have also been urged to enact legislation that puts in place punitive measures for individuals and organisations that propagate the ideology of genocide. Efforts have also been made to expedite the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). In a bid to accelerate court proceedings at the ICTR in early September, the UN Secretary- General appointed four temporary judges to the ICTR, to help the court deal efficiently with its workload. The UN called on the ICTR to complete investigations by the end of 2004, complete all trials by the end of 2008, and to complete all work in 2010. Since the tribunal's inception in 1994, it has indicted 81 suspects, convicting 20 and acquitted three. The tribunal however also faces a funding crunch, with agap of more than US $50 million being reported. The international community has been requested to heed calls for the disbursement of more resource funds for the full operations of the tribunal.

The sometimes-strained relationship between the ICTR and the Rwandan government is reported to be steadily improving. The tribunal has indicated that it is receiving cooperation with the government in terms of having witnesses brought to Arusha and carrying out investigations. Deliberations are however still on-going with regard to bringing to trial the forces of the Rwandan Patriotic Army for their alleged participation in the 1994 genocide. In another development, a team of senior officials of the ICTR in early May visited Rwanda to assess prison conditions in a bid to have prisoners convicted by the Tanzania-based court brought to serve their sentences in the country. Earlier on, the Rwandan government had made a request to have the ICTR convicts serve out their sentences in the country. The government has constructed a prison in the central province of Gitarama to hold the sentenced prisoners. Rwanda would become the seventh country after Mali, Benin, Swaziland, France, Italy and Sweden, to accept ICTR convicts. With regard to the transfer of cases to Rwanda, ICTR identified at least 40 cases it intends to transfer to national courts in Rwanda in early 2005. Judge Erik Møse, though indicates that the one issue with transferring cases to the Rwandan judicial system has been that it allows the death penalty while the ICTR does not. However he commented that Rwanda had given assurances that it could waive the death penalty in these cases.

Human Rights While some progress has been evident in judicial matters, Rwanda continues to face challenges with regard to the Government’s promotion of human rights issues. Recent notable cases include the

28 banning of a human-rights NGO, the League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights (LIPRODHOR) and cases of army officers fleeing persecution. In early August, three Rwandan army officers and a police officer fled to Uganda alleging persecution at home. The three are supposedly under Ugandan government custody at the moment with possible relocation to another country proposed. Britain has been mediating to resolve the tension between Uganda and Rwanda, who accuse each other of harbouring either country's dissidents. There have been similar defections to either country in the past years. Other recent defections included six human rights activists who fled Kigali in July after the Rwandan government banned their group for preaching what it called "genocidal ideology”. Since the parliamentary commission’s recommendation, international human rights organisations have expressed concern over the move, calling on the Rwandan government to reject the recommendation. However, the government has not yet made a decision on the issue.

Press Freedom In an encouraging development, however, a second privately-owned radio station, known as Radio Communautaire of Cyangugu, was launched in June. The station will initially cover the entire western province of Cyangugu as well as the town of Bukavu in eastern DRC while plans are in the pipeline to provide coverage to Kibuye Province in western Rwanda. The radio station hopes to assist the Cyangugu Province monitor good governance and ensure freedom of the press. Radio Communautaire becomes the second radio to be launched, after Radio 10 that was aired on 25 March, and at the end of August a third radio station, Radio Flash FM, was also launched. This is a positive beginning in restoring broadcasts since the banning of privately-owned radio stations after the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which the media was allegedly used to fan ethnic hatred. In March, six private broadcast licenses had been issued since the government decided to open up its airwaves.

Poverty Reduction and Economic Development Gradual progress has been noted on Rwanda’s socio-economic front, although needs in certain fields remain acute. A deterioration of basic services such as water and electricity in the country together with poor health and education infrastructures has had a negative impact on the economic performance as well as basic security. However the international donors and the Bretton Woods institutions are committed to assisting Rwanda in improving the country’s economic performance through a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and extensive budget support. Currently the county faces a $1.4-billion external debt. However hopes are high that at least US$1 billion will be waived before the end of 2004. The European Union (EU) also recently signed an agreement with Rwanda for a US $9.7 million grant for the renovation of the parliamentary complex and for a new building for the Ministry of Justice and Supreme Court. In addition to direct budgetary support, the EU helps to finance different projects in areas of poverty reduction, infrastructure and the justice sector. Observers however note that although donor support remains high at the moment, long-term commitment is essential in order to break the poverty cycle.

Persons in Inadequate Shelter A recently-released report by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has drawn attention to 180,000 families living in extremely poor conditions.24 Initially this population was relocated by the Government in the period 1997-99, ostensibly for their protection, due to security concerns resulting from rebel incursions in Ruhengeri and Gisenyi. Subsequently - and controversially - they were settled into 'Imudugudu' as part of a villagisation programme and, with effect from 2000, were no longer officially classified as internally displaced. Initial donor funding for the settlements dried up amidst concerns over human rights reports of coercion used in the resettlement process and the potential long-term negative consequences of the programme, including social tension, reduced access to land and damaged livelihoods. The situation of these families remains of serious concern. Reports indicate, for example, that settlements in Ruhengeri do not have adequate access to water, schools or health services, while

24 Norwegian Refugee Council, Rwanda: Doubts persist about sustainability of IDP resettlement, 29 October 2004 29 the rate of chronic child (under five) malnutrition is 55.9%. At present, people in the sites are neither able adequately to sustain themselves or to return to their original homes. As well as appealing for international assistance to the Government to support the population in these centres, recommendations have been made for an urgent survey to assess current living conditions and needs, as well as their wishes to remain or return.

Land Issues and Policy Access to land, and issues of tenure, are of considerable significance in Rwanda and often cited by Rwandan refugees as constraints to their return. The Government has recently completed the lengthy process of developing a National land policy, which is currently being addressed by a parliamentary standing committee. According to an African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) policy document on land issues in Rwanda, the country’s land policy emphasizes land consolidation, grouped settlements, and specialization and commercialization of agriculture.25

Food (in)security Recent metrological reports, rainfall forecasts predict high probability of heavy rains in late September – October which may lead to an increase in the incidences of landslides, soil erosion and loss of crops in the "marais" (inland valley-swamps) due to flooding. A report issued by FEWSNET in mid-September predicts that up to almost half million Rwandans could experience chronic hunger and that humanitarian agencies need to scale-up their interventions in affected regions until the December/January 2005 harvest. A Rwandan government official has indicated, however, that the situation is not as alarming as it has been made to appear. 31 districts have been identified throughout the country where approximately 10 to 15 percent of the population could run out of food stocks between September and October. Districts that are chronically food insecure with a population of between 250,000 to 400,000 people will need between 15,000 to 25,000MT of food assistance between September and December 2004. According to FEWSNET, food insecurity has been caused by prolonged drought conditions as well as poor soils. The most vulnerable regions are the southern districts of Bugesera, Gikongoro, and Butare. The Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Social Affairs (MINALOC) held a meeting in early October with provincial authorities to discuss the situation and make recommendations for an appropriate response. WFP, in collaboration with provincial authorities, is also increasing food-for-work (FFW) activities in the most affected areas in order to support the most vulnerable households. At the moment the planting season is underway, although a severe shortage of beans and maize crop seeds due to a poor season 2004B has been reported. The Ministry of Agriculture, and other agencies that normally distribute seeds, have been advised to address this problem as soon as possible in order that farmers can plant in time for season September/October 2005A.

Health Outbreaks of epidemic disease continue to be monitored. Four people died and 540 others were hospitalised following an outbreak of typhoid fever in northwestern Rwanda in July. Health officials embarked on an intensive campaign to sensitise the population on the need to improve sanitation in the region since the disease was linked to poor hygiene practices. An estimated population of 900,000 persons were considered being at risk of contracting the disease. Drugs supply and awareness on the disease has contributed to its containment.

HIV/AIDS prevalence remains a major concern. Rwanda is one of the sub-Saharan countries adversely affected by HIV/AIDS, with an estimated 13 percent of her 8.1 million people infected with the virus. A large number of HIV/AIDS cases stem from the events of the 1994 genocide which saw mainly women who were raped, widowed and infected with the virus. African Rights, a human rights

25 African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Land Reform, Land Scarcity and Post Conflict Reconstruction – A case study of Rwanda, Herman Musahara and C. Huggins 30 organization in its report, "Broken bodies, torn spirits, living with genocide, rape and HIV/AIDS", appealed to the international community to provide effective and appropriate support systems for these survivors. Meanwhile, UNICEF has revealed that a pilot project in Rwanda on the prevention of mother-to-child (PMTCT) HIV infection has helped improve the chances of HIV positive mothers giving birth to HIV negative children. Rwanda is one of eight pilot countries in eastern and southern Africa to have participated in the project in 1999, involving trials for use of anti-retrovirals (ARVs) to minimise the possibility of HIV infection from mother to child. Out of the 85% of mothers who participated in the project and two years after its inception only 3.8% of the children born to HIV- positive mothers were infected. Absence of such an intervention would mean that the rate of infection among the newborn babies would have averaged 25%. Rwanda has also begun receiving part of a $30.5- million US grant for programmes aimed at combating HIV/AIDS. The government is working with a number of major international partners including the Global Fund and the Clinton Foundation to implement their HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan and the possibility of accelerating the rollout of access to anti-retroviral treatment in Rwanda.

31 TANZANIA Total Population: 35,120,000 REFUGEES IN CAMPS

Location Origin Number26 (30/09/04) Decrease / increase

Kigoma Burundi 179,584 Decrease DRC 152,718 Increase Rwanda 163 Increase Mixed 1,801 Decrease Sub-total 334,266 Decrease Kagera Burundi 73,289 Decrease DRC 2 Decrease Rwanda 25 Increase Sub-total 73,316 Decrease Tanga Somali / other 2,847 Decrease Sub-total 2,847 Decrease TOTAL 410,429 Total decrease of 56,877

OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS

Burundi refugees 470,00027 This figure includes approximately 170,000 Burundians in outside camps settlements in Tabora and Rukwa, and a further 300,000 estimated by the Government to be living in villages in northerwestern Tanzania. Food Insecure 180,000 Estimated, in Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Morogoro. TOTAL 650,000

Humanitarian Overview The return of Burundian refugees continued throughout the reporting period with an overall decrease in the number of refugees in camps in western Tanzania of almost 57,000 people. In June the number of voluntary returns peaked to over 11,000 but since September, returns have slowed considerably due to uncertainty surrounding Burundi’s elections and concerns over potential insecurity. In addition, the recent reduction to World Food Programme (WFP) food rations as the result of insufficient funding is likely to contribute further to this decline in returns. There has been some influx from Burundi in response to political tension there over elections and continued insecurity, as well as new arrivals from DRC fleeing fighting in the Kivus.In the course of the last six months, a deterioration in food security due to insufficient rain and low crop production has affected populations in some parts of the country. Despite recent improvements in the situation in some areas, a large number of people are believed to be in need of food assistance in the northern highland areas of Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Morogoro.

General elections are scheduled for 2005 and the Muafaka agreement between the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the Civic United Front (CUF) in the semi-autonomous Isles of Zanzibar holds tenuously. Several bomb explosions and protest events in Zanzibar during the last months have highlighted the tensions that continue between the two sides. The elections will test the will of the parties to go through with the agreement on the Isles. The potential for a repeat of the violence that

26 UNHCR Tanzania, monthly statistics as of end September 2004 27 International Crisis Group figures for 2003 32 led to the flight of 100s of Zanzibar residents in the aftermath of the 2000 general elections remains cause for concern, as do the potential humanitarian consequences of this.

The 2005 elections conclude Benjamin Mkapa’s second five year term and, consequently, his time in office. They may also have implications for the attitude to refugees. For example, the ruling party, CCM initially indicated in its manifesto that it would strive for the repatriation of all refugees from the country before the next general elections scheduled for 2005. There is the likelihood of further politicization of the refugee question in the run up to the elections as politicians jostle for votes and refugees have proved to be a major political campaign issue in the country in the past.

Refugees Tanzania continues to be one of the most burdened refugees host countries in the world with over 600,000 refugees from countries in the region. While reiterating its respect for international law in regard to refugees, the government has maintained the position that the international community should do more to assist them in their hosting of such large numbers. The progress made thus far in the Burundi peace and political processes, which has prompted the return of over 80,00028 refugees since the beginning of 2004 alone, has however somewhat eased this burden – and the related tension. As of the beginning of October, there were approximately 252,00029 Burundian refugees in camps in Northwestern Tanzania and according to Tanzanian authorities a further 470,000 are believed present in the country. Some 170,000 live in settlements in Tabora and Rukwa and a further 300,000 are reported by the Government to be dispersed among local northwestern Tanzanian populations. The Government of Tanzania is reportedly in the process of revising its refugee law and guidelines into a single piece of legislation.

Refugees from Burundi The increased rate of return of Burundian refugees in 2004 far surpassed the annual average of the last two years since the facilitated returns by UNHCR first began in 2002. However, recent developments in Burundi, including the postponement of elections, imply that further returns are likely to slow down and could even grind to a halt as refugees adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Indeed, during October the level of return dropped to 1,066 for the month – the lowest in 2004. There were also approximately 280 new arrivals from Burundi (from the provinces of Kirundo, Ruyigi and Gitega), their flight reportedly prompted by continued insecurity, uncertainty over the election process and rumours of plans for ethnically-motivated attacks as a result.

UNHCR remains reluctant to promote the return of refugees back to Burundi given the continued insecurity in some areas and is currently only engaged in facilitating returns; a cautious stand that has been vindicated by recent developments. UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner Kamel Morjane indicated in early April that ‘hesitations on the political side’ are making it impossible for the agency to promote return and that although the situation is better, it is neither perfect nor sustainable yet. The return of Burundian refugees from Tanzania is being facilitated through two crossing points into Ruyigi and one into Makamba in the south, the latter opened only in mid-June 2004. UNHCR had earlier opened the Manyovu/Mugira crossing point into Makamba in April to facilitate more returns. This process followed the November 2003 signature of a cease-fire agreement between the Transitional Government of Burundi and the main rebel group, CNDD-FDD which allowed for the restoration of security in much of Burundi.

Refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo Developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the reporting period have not been encouraging. The continuing volatility in the east of the country continues to discourage the return of

28 Based on UNHCR statistics 29 See table 33 refugees from Tanzania. Indeed, there have been further influxes following the June skirmishes in Bukavu between renegade RCD Goma elements and the Transitional National Government forces. There are 152,72030 Congolese refugees in Tanzania and it is not foreseen that they will return soon. Transition elections are to be held in the DRC in June 2005 and many of the refugees appear to be waiting for the outcome, as well as for the pacification of the eastern parts of the country, the area from which 92% of the total Congolese refugee caseload in Tanzania originates.

Food Assistance to Refugee Camps On 25 October, the World Food Program (WFP) announced that it has had to make reductions in ration sizes for 400,000 refugees living in 13 camps in western Tanzania due to funding shortfalls. The cuts would reduce maize rations by roughly 24% (from 2.5kg to 1.9kg per person per week) and pulses by approximately the same amount. WFP has appealed for US$14 million dollars in order to provide the necessary food to avoid further cuts and to restore rations into the early part of 2005. The agency warned that without immediate commitment, food stocks could dry up altogether in February. The cuts may have serious implications for the health and nutritional status of the refugees, as well as for the security within and surrounding the camps, if they have to be maintained over a sustained period of time.

Security in Refugee-Affected Areas (RAA) Several security incidences have been reported in refugee hosting areas during the reporting period, including in the Ngara camps and surrounding areas. A Tanzania Christian Refugee Services (TCRS) employee and a refugee were killed in separate incidences in Kibondo. Separately, a Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) vehicle was attacked in the same area during the same period. A UNHCR vehicle was hijacked in Ngara in June, although the driver was released unharmed and several reports of banditry and robberies have been made. The increase in security incidences in refugee hosting areas has led to further precautions by humanitarian personnel operating in the area. Tanzanian law enforcement personnel have moved to improve security in the refugee areas and tightened restrictions on the movement of refugees outside of the camps. Increased police patrols and the guarding of all unofficial entrances to the camps by police and refugee volunteers are some of the measures put in place by Tanzania authorities to curb incidences of criminal acts and killings around the camps. Restrictions may increase with security concerns over food ration reductions.

Food Security The Government’s concerns about an impending food insecurity situation in the country early 2004 came to pass during the reporting period. Following a government rapid assessment, it was determined that up to 3.5 million people would be affected by the food shortages across the country in March but the figure would gradually decline to 1.8 and 900,000 in April and May respectively as the food situation of the population improve. The government appealed for 45,000 MT to meet part of the total requirement of 77,490 MT of food assistance to deal with the emergency. An initial 9,000 MT was made available by WFP in March and the Government pledged 14,000MT from its reserves and a further import of 10,000 MT from Kenya to combat the situation. The government announced plans to import a further 22,000 MT in April. Following the completion of its distribution for the drought intervention in May, WFP extended the operations for reporting purposes only until the end of 2004. WFP total receipts for the drought intervention amounted to 29,070 tons, which was distributed to affected populations in rations sufficient for two months.

The food security situation has since improved in many areas of the country following favorable harvests. However in some areas of the northern highlands the situation has deteriorated further. Insufficient crop production and high food prices have been worsened by the temptation to export local stocks to Kenya where prices are unusually inflated. 180,000 people in the areas of Arusha,

30 See table 34 Kilimanjaro and Morogoro are thought to be in need of food. Approximately 19,000 MT of food and 1,400 MT of seed assistance are required to address this situation in the short term.

Health Tanzania has been awarded a grant by the Global Fund on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria amounting to US$ 87.9 million for a number of activities including the distribution of free anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs . There are an estimated two million People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) in Tanzania, half a million of whom are suffering from full-blown AIDS. The government announced at the end of August its intention to begin the distribution of ARVs to some AIDS sufferers from the beginning of October 2004. Part of the resources from the Global Fund will also be used to build capacity for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) in 45 out of the country’s 121 districts.

The Global Fund has also extended a grant of US$ 19.8 million to the government to support the National Insecticide Treated Nets Implementation Plan (NatNets), which is part of the attempt to encourage wider use of treated mosquito nets to reduce mortality from malaria. In 2002, the Government also eliminated taxes on treated bed nets in keeping with the Abuja Agreement, signed by African governments on measures to curb mortality from Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. The government spends US$ 121 million annually to fight the disease, which affects approximately 18 million Tanzanians every year, and causes the death of approximately 100,000 annually. This is the highest death rate for malaria in southern Africa, with 70% of the deaths being among women and children below five years old. The Tanzania Malaria Control Programme estimates that, if the population takes to sleeping under treated nets, this could reduce the mortality rate by up to 27%.

Support to healthcare has also been received from the Danish government, which advanced a US$93 million grant in July to the government for the improvement of healthcare services in the country for the next five years. The grant is earmarked for the upgrading and improvement of hospitals, health centres and dispensaries across the country and the provision of medical equipment.

CAP Status By the end of October, the Consolidated Appeal for 2004 was 75% funded, with UNHCR funded to 92.6%. The total amount of the appeal was US$ 38,766,187 with US$29,012,579 having been pledged to date. WFP appealed for funds through their regional Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO), which is included in the Great Lakes regional CAP and covers Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda. The total amount of this appeal was US$ 100,233,961, which was later revised down to reflect carry over resources to US$ 63,400,000. The UNCT held a Scenario Development and Analysis Workshop between 11-14 October as the first stage in a process to develop an Interagency Transition and Recovery Strategy for northwestern Tanzania.

35

UGANDA Total Population: 24,748,97731

Refugees by Settlement32 District Settlement Origin Number Adjumani Adjumani Sudan 62,393 Arua Imvepi Sudan 23,691 Rhino Camp Sudan, DRC, Burundi 26,637 Madi Okollo 7,468 Hoima Kyangwali DRC, Sudan, Kenya, Burundi 17,930 Kabarole Kyaka II* DRC, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi 7,951 Masindi Kiryandongo Sudan 15,066 Mbarara Oruchinga Rwanda 3,948 Nakivale Rwanda, DRC, Others 15,705 Moyo Palorinya Sudan 35,125 Yumbe Ikafe 9,660 Urban Areas - - - TOTAL: 225,574

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS33 District Number Comment Gulu 515,039 Figure as at October 2004, including 67,613 IDPS in previously ungazetted camps now receiving food from WFP following screening. Katakwi 0 Figures are as of end October 2004

Kitgum 267,078 Figures are as at October 2004

Kotido 0 Figures are as of end October 2004

Pader 279,589 Figures are as at October 2004.

Lira - rural 279,091 Figures are as at end October 2004 Lira - municipality 22,427 Figures are as at end October 2004 Soroti 0 Figures are as of end October 2004 Kaberamaido 97,561 Figures are as of end October 2004 Total IDPs: 1,460.785

31 Provisional results, Uganda Bureau of Statistics: 2002 Uganda Population and Housing Census. 32 Refugee figures are as at the end of September 2004. 33 Note: Affected population figures are of variable accuracy due to the rapidly changing situation as well as the varying quality of information sources and the difficulty of access. Inclusion in this list does not necessarily indicate that this population is receiving humanitarian assistance. IDP camp populations reflect the populations receiving assistance by WFP, but not unassisted population figures. No comprehensive registration of IDPs in the north has been possible since June 2002. 36 OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS

Category Number Comments

Drought-Affected 290,024 Karamoja, Teso & West Nile Region34 Abducted Children 3,000 UNICEF estimates that this is the number of children that have been abducted since October 2003. No thorough assessment of the total numbers of abducted children is available. Night Commuters –Gulu 21,067 As at end October 2004. Figures fluctuate according to the security Town and Outskirts situation and are drawn from periodic inter-agency headcounts. Night Commuters – 18,058 Figure verified as of 17 August, 2004. Kitgum Night Commuters – 6,321 Figure verified in Kalongo in October 2004. Pader and Kalongo TOTAL: 338,470

Humanitarian Overview The scale of the humanitarian needs in the conflict-affected districts of Northern Uganda is immense and the need for protection of civilians remains the overarching priority. The official figure of people displaced is nearly 1.6 million, but recently the Prime Minister officially repudiated any distinction between “gazetted” and “non gazetted” camps may give a more realistic figure of closer to 2 million as, previously, only IDPs in ‘gazetted’ camps were included in official statistics. Affected populations in northern Uganda remain under-served and inadequately protected. Overcrowding in the camps is endemic and, by proxy, this has created appalling health and sanitation conditions. On average, an IDP from the camps in the conflict affected districts survives on less than 5 litres of water per day (SPHERE guidance on minimum standards is 15 litres) and global acute malnutrition rates range between 20% and 30% in many of the IDP camps. IDPs are dependant on food relief for more than 75% of their needs in Gulu and Kitgum and a steady erosion of coping mechanisms means that self- sustainability is unlikely to be an option in the near future. Education remains a neglected emergency as high levels of displacement and security concerns prevent children from attending school.

MSF has recently completed retrospective mortality surveys in 6 camps in Lira and Pader Districts35. Survey results found a crude mortality rate (CMR) of 2.8 deaths/10,000 people per day for the general population where according to international standards a rate of more than 2 per 10.000 a day is considered an ‘emergency out of control’. For children under five, the mortality rate was even more alarming at 5.4 deaths/10,000 children/day, going as high as 10.5 deaths/10,000 children a day in one location. The humanitarian situation in northern Uganda remains critical and needs are unlikely to diminish in the coming few months. It seems that only a sustainable, negotiated peace deal will finally bring a substantial change to the humanitarian situation in the conflict affected areas of the North.

POLITICAL CONTEXT

War with the LRA The regional disparities between Northern Uganda and the rest of the country remain immense, with the poverty headcount for the northern region as 63% compared to the nation’s 39%36. With the international and local media focusing greater attention on the situation in the north and the ongoing conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF), the Government of Uganda has reinforced some of its commitment to the populations living in the devastated northern districts. In August 2004, the Cabinet passed a Bill on Internal Displacement whose implementation should serve to ease the humanitarian situation of the IDPs. Further, President

34 WFP Targeted beneficiaries, November 2004. 35 36 Uganda CAP 2005 37 Museveni issued several statements reiterating the GoUs willingness to hold talks with the LRA leadership, either directly or through intermediaries. Similarly, the LRA have indicated their willingness to dialogue but the few attempts to have talks have not yet borne fruit.

At the same time as the government seems more willing to engage in dialogue with the LRA, they have been pursuing the military option by enforcing Operation Iron Fist II, an agreement that allows the UPDF to pursue the LRA into Sudanese territory. The UPDF has reported several military successes and much optimism prevails because of the increased number of LRA fighters who have surrendered and taken advantage of the provisions of the Amnesty Act. There seems to be more hope that the conflict is drawing to a close although the official rhetoric may be slightly exaggerated. The population in the northern districts, particularly the Acholi people, does not see the capture of Joseph Kony or the ‘ending’ of the war as an end to their problems which have very real roots in the political and economic marginalization that has been their lot since 1985. As the government seeks to consolidate its military gains, there are concerns that witch-hunting and accusations of collaboration with the LRA may be randomly applied, and are instead masking other political intentions since the Acholi are not seen to be a support base for the ruling party in the forthcoming elections in 2006.

The arming of ethnic militias, while one of several options employed by the UPDF in their fight against the LRA, is seen to be causing an increase in ethnic tensions in the northern districts. Some observers link this to a reinforcement of political power bases for the elections but of greater concern is the UPDF’s exit strategy or disarmament of these militias. The turnaround recruitment of LRA reporters – those who surrender to the UPDF- into UPDF forces is also causing some worry. With military and government rhetoric turning around the so-called end of the war and the imminent peace, the loose ends in the process are considered to be potentially dangerous. Plans for the post-conflict period seem centered around the institutionalization of the IDP camps into a sort of villagization scheme and there are fears that LRA reporters and even IDPs may be incorporated into large scale agricultural projects .

The International Criminal Court has made preliminary inroads into its investigations of crimes committed by the LRA in the conflict in northern Uganda. However, there is great concern amongst civil society that the ICC investigations contradict the Amnesty Act and discourage any attempts at peaceful dialogue. The dilemma is between efforts to obtain a negotiated peace and reconciliation for the north and the signals of recrimination and retribution towards the LRA as alleged perpetrators of war crimes. Amnesty International and the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI), in particular, call for both sides involved in the conflict to be investigated by the ICC, not just the LRA.

The debate on the third term and the political transition towards multi-party elections continue. Uganda’s donors remain engaged with the government on various issues, ranging from the need to allow for flexibility in reallocation of funds according to local priorities in the conflict-affected districts and the call for greater clarity on the political processes leading up to the 2006 elections.

Relations with Sudan Tensions between Sudan and Uganda seem to have subsided since the signing in May 2004 of the last protocol between the SPLM and the Government of Sudan. With heightened expectations that the war in Uganda will reap peace dividends from the peace in Sudan, the UDPF stepped up its campaign of pursuit of the LRA to hammer home any possible advantage. UPDF military successes within Sudanese borders as a result of Operation Iron Fist II have added to the optimism in Uganda, further reducing tension between Uganda and the Sudan. The final results of the Sudanese Peace Talks is uncertain, and with Darfur’s prominence in the international media it is unlikely that the LRA issue will be put on the table for discussion at either of these peace processes. Nevertheless, there is renewed hope that international pressure to remove external support for the LRA is showing some positive results. At the same time, Uganda has accused the governments of the DRC and of Sudan of collaborating with armed

38 Ugandan rebel groups in the DRC and of passing arms to them along the Sudanese-Congolese border. These accusations have been denied by both parties.

Regional Approaches to Rebel Groups DRC, Rwanda and Uganda have agreed to disarm rebel groups operating in their territories within a year as a way to pacify the region. At a tripartite meeting held in Kampala and mediated by the US government, the 3 countries agreed to establish a commission to implement the disarmament process. The aim is to achieve significant results within 6 months and completion of such efforts within 12 months. The three nations have also established a Joint Verification Mission to monitor the border areas between their respective countries.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Security Between March and June, the security situation worsened substantially, as LRA rebels intensified their attacks on the displaced people in the northern districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, and the horror of killing and abductions continued unabated. Since July however, there has been a marked improvement in the security situation, indicated by a decrease in the number of LRA attacks and in the number of night commuters, and an increase in the number of people returning to their villages. However, the humanitarian community is treating such figures with cautious optimism as patterns such as these have been seen in previous years and have represented only a temporary change in circumstances.

The Ugandan government continues to pursue a military solution to the conflict with Operation Iron Fist 2. However, over the last few months, the military offensive has predominantly been focused on LRA activities in south Sudan. As of August, the UPDF have been operating mainly out of Juba in South Sudan and have been launching assaults on LRA bases in Eastern Equatoria. The most notable attack was on Kony’s camp in Bilinyiang in southern Sudan. Although 4 of his wives and 10 children were captured, Kony managed to evade the attack. However, large numbers of Sudanese civilians have reportedly been killed by the LRA during attacks on villages, and thousands more displaced as a result, bringing a new focus to the crisis and new pressure on the Sudanese peace negotiations to incorporate the issue of the LRA into discussions.

One of the most positive indicators of the changing situation has been the large number of LRA defectors. Incidents of low to middle rank LRA commanders being captured by or surrendering to the UPDF has increased in all conflict affected districts over the last few months. The increased trend in defections, in particular the capture of Brigadier Banya, one of the high level LRA commanders, has encouraged the local authorities to quicken up the pace of integration of ex-LRA combatants. Although this has been a cause for optimism, many humanitarian workers remain skeptical about the situation until high profile LRA commanders begin to surrender voluntarily as opposed to being captured

Whilst military engagements between the LRA and UPDF continue, so too do isolated brutal attacks by small bands of LRA rebels against civilians in IDP camps, villages and on roads in Northern Uganda. Kitgum and Pader continue to have higher incidences of insecurity with reports of abductions, road ambushes and killings of civilians. This is due to the heavier presence of LRA. In Teso and Lango, the situation has been calmer and the numbers of incidents in Lira continue to fall, although northern Lira remains fluid and unpredictable.

Access Access to the affected populations situated in IDP camps is still severely hindered by the unpredictability of LRA attacks on the roads leading to the camps and thus provision of essential services continues to be restrained. Ongoing stability in the Gulu and Lira area has led to improved and

39 more regular access for the humanitarian agencies to the rural camps but most humanitarian agencies continue to use military escorts. The UPDF are facilitating these movements, but the numbers of troops available for convoys are considered inadequate and continue to restrain humanitarian assistance. Agencies remain cautious about accessing areas to the east of Gulu town (Opit-Lalogi- Awere belt) and to the south-west (Amuru, Alero and Anaka). Increased LRA presence in Kitgum means that access to the sub-counties north of Kitgum town has become dangerous for humanitarian agencies. The Teso sub-region has experienced a sustained reduction in the activity of the LRA since April and thus humanitarian agencies are able to move without escort in 3 districts in this region.

Protection Protection of civilians remains the overarching concern amongst humanitarian workers and civilians in the conflict affected districts remain in fear of attacks and abduction. There have been several positive initiatives pursued by the Ugandan authorities and the humanitarian community towards improved protection of vulnerable groups. A Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Northern Uganda was held in September in Kampala and focused on complementary action that could be undertaken to address these needs. The passing of the IDP bill by the Cabinet (setting out as government policy the protection of IDPs), the review of the existing physical protection of the IDP camps, and the acknowledgement that all IDPs should be physically protected shows a positive commitment on the part of the authorities to improve the situation. The deployment of child protection officers to areas in northern Uganda and the establishment of networks to improve child protection has helped in coordination of protection assistance.

Another major protection problem is the trend of arrest and detention of “LRA collaborators/coordinators”. ICRC is raising this issue with prison officials as it is not yet clear whether these individuals are covered by the Amnesty Act. This matter has been further compounded when the Minister of State in charge of Security, Hon Betty Aketch declared that some IDPs have been feeding the rebels with food and information under the pretext that they are going out of the camps to cultivate. This declaration has had implications for IDPs attempts to access land in the countryside and has raised concern about protection of IDPs in camps.

Night commuters Protection of the night commuters continues to be a major issue. The number of night commuters tends to be a good barometer of the perception of the security situation in the local area. Correspondingly over the last few months, the numbers of night commuters reached a peak of 52,000 in June when LRA attacks were rife before declining to 38,000 in August as a result of the reduction in LRA attacks and the perceived improvement in the security situation37. However, following reports of Kony’s re-entry into Northern Uganda from southern Sudan, numbers in Gulu rose to 22,010 in the second week of October, but then dropped by the end of October to 21,067.38 The conditions facing the night commuters still present a major challenge to humanitarian actors. Sexual violence, thefts, overpopulation of the facilities and exposure of night commuters to the open all exacerbate their vulnerability.39

Women and Gender Issues There are several concerns in the protection of women and children. The poor camp facilities and the breakdown of community structures in situations of displacement lend themselves easily to women being sexually abused or exploited. Focus on education, especially girl-child education is quite limited in

37 By June, the night commuter figures had increased by 15% on average in the Gulu, Kitgum and Pader (from January) reaching a figure of 52,000 in Gulu, Kitgum and Kalongo towns. However, in conjunction with the improved security situation the numbers of in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader had fallen by about 30% to 38,000 as of September for the 3 locations. 38 OCHA Uganda, Humanitarian Update, October 2004 39 OCHA Kitgum Sub office, Monthly report, July 2004 40 the displaced camps. These factors tend to encourage the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually- transmitted diseases especially since recreational alternatives for young people are similarly limited. Child-mothers, especially those who were formerly abducted face considerable trauma and are often rejected by their families or community –especially if the babies are product of rape or liaison with the LRA. Psycho-social care and trauma counseling facilities are scarce. Recent surveys into the mental health of IDPs show that 62% of women interviewed think about committing suicide40 and MSF reports that in its clinic in Pader it has treated several patients for the consequences of failed suicide attempts.

Displacement, Return and Resettlement The recent improvement in the security situation has stimulated a growing trend of return to areas of origin amongst some groups of IDPs and is consequently facilitating improved access to farmland for these IDPs. Furthermore, decongestion of the bigger camps and movement of IDPs from urban to rural camps, particularly in both Teso and Lira is also contributing to this trend. In Teso in particular, humanitarian agencies are now beginning to focus planning on programmes that support the resettlement and recovery process. However, in Lira, there continue to be problems with congestion in the urban camps and areas identified for the relocation of IDPs are reportedly full.41 In Kitgum, IDPs are still unable to move beyond half a kilometre from their camps due to the threat of heavy LRA presence.

However, this trend of movement towards rural areas is creating additional problems with security, since the military are unable to adequately protect these additional rural camps. There is also a need to accurately monitor the rate and locations of movement in order to assist humanitarian agencies in service provision.

With the increased number of surrenders, focus is also starting to shift to the issue of reintegration and resettlement of ex-LRA combatants. There are 2 reintegration activities currently being pursued by the government. The recruitment of former LRA combatants into the UPDF’s 105 Battalion has stimulated various concerns over human rights violations (i.e. recruitment of children into this brigade and whether recruitment is voluntary or forced). The second activity has been the resettlement of ex- combatants at Labora site in Gulu. However there are concerns that isolating the former combatants into one area will not facilitate sustainable and widespread reintegration. Furthermore, there is reported to be growing disgruntlement amongst the returnees in Gulu over the inadequate resettlement package from the Government and there are concerns amongst the humanitarian community that this may become a potential security threat. It is clear that the issues surrounding resettlement are becoming of greater importance.

Refugees There are some 255,574 refugees currently hosted by Uganda, the majority of whom are from Sudan but with caseloads also from DRC, Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya. It had been hoped that progress in the North-south Sudanese peace process would allow the start of repatriation, instead, however, new arrivals have been received. UNHCR registered 2,000 persons in Moyo in late October and further arrivals were reported in Adjumani. It is thought that this movement has been prompted by increased insecurity and displacement within southern Sudan, where the LRA has attacked the population, looted and destroyed property.

In the case of Rwandan refugees, following the tripartite agreement signed between Uganda, Rwanda and the UNHCR in December 2003, only 1200 refugees have so far returned between January and May

40 Source: MSF Press release: http://www.msf.org/countries/page.cfm?articleid=CD3DA72E-43DE-4DF5- A2BFDA6C49D620F1 41 OCHA Uganda, Humanitarian Update, September 2004. 41 2004. According to UNHCR, 18,000 Rwandan refugees in Uganda remained undecided on their return to Rwanda.

There has been some movement of populations along the Ugandan-DRC border as Congolese flee the localized clashes between militia groups in their country. At the same time, the Ugandan government expelled around 11,000 Congolese who had sought refuge in Uganda during the past several months, refusing to prolong their stay because the refugees refuse official registration and relocation to UNHCR camps. The expelled populations are said to be in severe humanitarian need although aid agencies on both sides of the border are trying to give assistance, primarily in health services and food distribution.

Food security The food security situation has deteriorated over the last few months due to short and inadequate rainfall during the first rains and a delay in the commencement of the second rains which has affected food production throughout Uganda. The expected food insecure caseload is 2.17 million42. The Karamoja region has been particularly affected since its one season crop is entirely dependant on the September rains.

It is thought that total national production has been reduced by 30%43. The poor rainfall exacerbates an already fragile food security situation in the North-eastern areas as displaced IDPs are unable to access their land due to threat of attacks by the LRA and are thus highly dependant on food aid. Limited access to agricultural inputs (seeds and tools) is further hampering production. Indicative of this worsening situation was the decision by WFP to increase rations from 65% to 78% of minimum human dietary requirements for Gulu, Kitgum and Pader since May 2004. This now leaves WFP with a shortfall of 13,898 tons from August to December 2004.

Malnutrition rates In spite of the nutrition interventions, malnutrition rates amongst the affected population are still exceptionally high with GAM rates significantly above the SPHERE standards of 10%. However, nutrition surveys for 18 camps covering 4,139 children in Kitgum and for 13 camps covering 2,390 children in Pader showed a reduction in malnutrition rates in all camps compared to previous nutrition surveys of October 2003 in the same districts. The situation in Kitgum district continues to be worse than that in Pader district. The GAM rates in Kitgum IDP camps range from 7.4% to 18.3% for children of less than 5 years old and in Pader ranges from 4.4% to 12.2%. In Gulu, the malnutrition problem is compounded by a shortage of milk, and CSB. Whilst there has been a reduction in SAM rates in nearly all camps, this continues to be high. In Kitgum district, SAM ranges from 0.8% -3.8% and in Pader district it ranges from 0.9-3.8%.

Public health The health systems that exist in the conflict affected districts remain under huge stress. One of the major constraints is the particular shortage of experienced health workers at the health posts in the sub-counties. Medical practitioners are of value to the LRA, and they are thus extremely vulnerable to attack. Encouraging medical staff to remain in the camps remains a major challenge. Consequently, many of the health workers have fled to safer areas or to the main hospitals. As a result, many of the IDPs in the sub-counties are referred to the main hospitals in larger towns and such delays in treatment are reported to have increased the level of unnecessary deaths.44 In Lira, coverage of health services in the camps remain weak and district mobile clinics in municipal camps work

42 OCHA 2004 43 Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries 2004 (MAAIF) 44 Kitgum Sub Office, OCHA Uganda, Gulu Monthly Report, July 2004 42 irregularly. In response to this fragile situation, Lira District has drawn a provisional District Health/Nutrition response plan to cover all the IDP camps.

Mental health and the lack of psycho-social care is a tremendous concern. A mental health survey45 in Pader Town Centre revealed that almost all respondents have been exposed to severe traumatic events since 2002: 63 % report the disappearance or abduction of family member, 58% report the death of a family member due to the insurgency, 79% have witnessed torture, and 40% have witnessed a killing. Most disturbing is that 5% of the population has been forced to physically harm somebody.

The lack of access to food and lack of shelter stand as key factors contributing to the high prevalence of malnutrition and malaria amongst vulnerable persons. The overcrowded conditions in the IDP camps have proved to be a breeding ground for communicable diseases and there are exceptionally high levels of malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea.

Despite Uganda’s trend of reversing prevalence rates on the national level, rates of HIV prevalence are thought to be much higher in the conflict affected districts than in the rest of the country, although official figures are currently lacking. Long term displacement and the ensuing disrupting effects on traditional and cultural practices are a contributory factor to this disparity in HIV/AIDS rates.

Water and Sanitation There remain major gaps in the provision of water and sanitation facilities although efforts to address this problem are ongoing. In Kitgum and Pader, efforts are focusing on addressing the acute water shortages in the IDP and night commuter sites. Water consumption amongst IDP varies between 2-4 litres per person per day and latrine use is at average 300 persons per squat hole.46 This is way below the Sphere minimum standards of 15 litres per person per day and 20 persons per squat hole respectively. Priorities in this sector remain drilling/rehabilitating of new boreholes in camps and where people have returned and settled and the provision of low costs water sources such as shallow wells for IDPs and returning populations in the LRA affected areas.

HUMANITARIAN POLICY ISSUES

Ungazetted camps Despite the recent directive by the Prime Minister to abolish the distinction between “gazetted” and “non-gazetted camps”, there remains concern over the problem of protection in the formerly “ungazetted” camps. These camps require immediate assistance, particularly in terms of food, water and sanitation. It is estimated that 300,000-400,000 IDPs remain in unregistered camps. Bobi camp, about 24kms south of Gulu is now the fastest growing camp in northern Uganda and is the largest ungazetted camp. As of July, its population has been rising at a rate of 2000-3000 people per week. Between May and July the population rose by nearly 40%. Bobi camp is one of 13 ungazetted IDP camps in Gulu, with an estimated combined population of nearly 100,000 people.47 There are ungazetted camps in Apac, Lira, Gulu, Pader and Kitgum.

IDP Policy In August, the government of Uganda officially approved the National Policy on Internal Displacement (IDP policy). The overall policy goal is to provide for the protection and assistance of Internally

45 Source: MSF Press release: http://www.msf.org/countries/page.cfm?articleid=CD3DA72E-43DE-4DF5- A2BFDA6C49D620F1 46 OCHA Humanitarian Assistance Update, August 2004 47 Gulu Sub Office, OCHA Uganda, Gulu Monthly Report, July 2004 43 Displaced Persons (IDPs) by giving guidelines to Government Institutions, local and International Humanitarian Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations involved in upholding the rights and entitlements of the IDPs through all the phases of displacement. The effective implementation of the IDP policy remains a challenge.

Amnesty Act On the 17 August, the Government extended amnesty to the LRA for another 3 months. This is the twelfth time it has been extended since the Amnesty act was established in December 2000. The previous amnesty expired on the 16 August 2004. The Amnesty act offers unconditional amnesty to surrendering rebels, and over the last few months, has provided a basis for the surrender and reintegration of former LRA rebels. It is perceived by those living in the conflict areas as vital and positive element to ending the war.

FUNDING

The CAP 2004 received USD 76.2 million as of September 2004 which is 61.3% of the total requirements. Funding outside the CAP amounts to USD 31 million. However, despite these combined amounts, sectors such as water, sanitation, health, protection and education remain chronically underfunded. The CAP 2005 for Uganda was launched in November appealing for US$157,686,167.

44 REPUBLIC OF CONGO

A short brief on the Republic of Congo has been included in this report in view of the current serious humanitarian situation in the Pool region, the possibility of further violence within the country as well as the cross-border implications of a fragile transition in the DRC.

Following the series of conflicts that ravaged the Republic of Congo during the past ten years, the humanitarian situation in much of the country has declined considerably. The country has seen a sustained drop in its per capita income and a deterioration of key social indicators. Today, more than 70% of the country's population lives under the poverty line. In spite of increased and substantial oil revenues, the country’s economic performance is severely affected by its debt burden, which stands at 185% of GDP forcing the government to dedicate two-thirds of its revenue resources to service external debt arrears. In spite of recent rises in oil prices, it is not foreseen that higher fiscal revenue will be accompanied by increased allocations of budgetary outlays for social services. In recent years, several sectors, health and education amongst them, have been subject to hiring freezes, resulting in severe personnel shortages with devastating effects on the provision of basic services. Increased morbidity and mortality rates are the natural consequence of years of conflict, insecurity and socio-economic deterioration.

Situation in the Pool Region Most particularly, the situation in the Pool Region is one of devastation. Villages have been razed, infrastructure destroyed and what population remains is victimized by roaming bands of young men known as Ninjas. A ceasefire agreement was signed on 17 March 2003 - and reaffirmed one year later in March 2004 - by the government and the Ninjas of the Conseil National de la Résistance (CNR, or National Resistance Council). Peace, however, is still elusive in this region where Ninjas regularly prey on civilians, and where the army’s presence is mostly symbolic. The conflict caused massive population displacement towards the regions of Lekoumou, Bouenza, Niari, Plateaux, and the capital city of Brazzaville. There are currently more than 100,000 internally displaced persons; but more and more have begun to return: in May the RoC government counted 12,000 returnees in the Pool.

In the past, the Pool region distinguished itself as the country’s granary. Its fertile soils supplied Brazzaville with fresh groceries and livestock. Today, those fields are burned, roads and infrastructure are destroyed and most of its population is displaced. In a country where armed groups are linked to politics, every armed group has committed appalling atrocities against the civilian population. Currently, the Pool region has the highest malnutrition rates in the country: WFP estimate that 15% of the population suffers from severe malnutrition. Food insecurity levels in the Pool remain high and have resulted in high morbidity and child mortality rates. Mortality figures of 2.9% in the Pool Region largely surpass Sphere indicators of 1.3%; Crude Mortality Rates for children under-5 are 4.1 per thousand per month. The region, which used to be a net exporter of farming products to other regions, has now become an importer of food. Today, what little food is available in the markets arrives from the capital or the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and most of the goods are beyond the reach of the average Pool farmer who has been reduced to bartering. Most farmers have been reduced to subsistence farming or to producing just enough to live on despite the fertile soils. Fearing that their crops will attract attention from the armed militias roaming the region, production is kept at a minimum.

The successive wars have seriously ravaged key sectors of the economy. Destruction of infrastructure and roads has interrupted economic activities in the Pool. With few passable roads and the railway coming under frequent attacks, looting of merchandise and passenger insecurity, farmers there are no longer able to send their meager produce to traditional market outlets such as Brazzaville. Facing

45 these multiple barriers to recovery, poverty remains a reality and, for the population in the Pool, simple survival is a daunting prospect.

Nevertheless, the IDPs from the Pool region have been returning to this situation of widespread destruction, near complete absence of social and economic services, and continued insecurity. Until the latest ceasefire was signed, little assistance was forthcoming for the affected population. The 150,000 to 250,000 people that remained in the region have seen their traditional coping mechanisms drastically eroded and live in the Pool in a situation of heightened needs.

Health conditions are catastrophic because of the destruction and looting of health posts and the dearth of health services. Out of 52 health facilities only 13 are functioning and most of these have been destroyed or looted of equipment, drugs and roof materials. The flight and absence of health professionals has meant that the few surviving health structures lack not only equipment, drugs, and laboratories but also doctors and nurses. Poor vaccination coverage in the Pool region has contributed to high child mortality rates, while preventable diseases like malaria and respiratory infections, are ravaging the region's population.

The poor nutritional and health status of the population, the destruction of their traditional coping mechanisms and their communities has resulted in high mortality rates as result of these diseases. Compounding the health and nutritional situation is lack of access for the Pool population to potable water. The majority of the population draws its daily water intake from rivers, stagnant ponds, and creeks and results in high incidences of water borne diseases and gastrointestinal infections. Children are particularly vulnerable to both the short and longer-term humanitarian consequences of war. The education sector has been devastated: more than half of the children of the Pool have not attended school since the conflicts began in 1997. More than half of the schools in this region are closed.

In this context of absence of basic social services and the rampant insecurity, the protection of civilians is another major challenge. Despite the deployment of humanitarian staff in the region, humanitarian access is severely constrained both by insecurity and the breakdown of logistic infrastructure. The cost of the remaining transport alternative - travel and supply by air - is as prohibitive for humanitarian action as for economic recovery.

Refugees Despite its own internal problems, intermittent conflict in the countries bordering the Republic of Congo has resulted in the country playing host to thousands of refugees. The caseload from the DRC numbers around 72,000 persons, whose repatriation is now being implemented following a tripartite agreement between the two governments and UNHCR. Angolan refugees number around 20,000, and their presence in the RoC is politically sensitive as many are former UNITA soldiers. Similarly, the 10,000 or so refugees from Rwanda include ex-FAR and Interahamwe militia, who were allegedly active in the conflicts in RoC, and who now resist repatriation to Rwanda because of their widely-recognized role in the 1994 genocide and the consequences they would face.

Cap Status The Country Team has prepared a Common Humanitarian Action Plan, which focuses on the needs for the urgent humanitarian response for the Pool region. This is reflected in the 2005 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for US$21,960,437, which was launched in November.

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