Global Needs Assessment

The majority of refugees and asylum seekers in Rwanda have fled from the various conflicts that have gripped the Great Lakes region over the last three decades. The latest influx was in December 2006, when renewed fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) provinces of North and South Kivu triggered a fresh wave of refugees fleeing into Rwanda for safety. As part of the complex movement of people in this part of the world, Rwandan refugees are also returning home from years in exile, mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. They too need help with reintegration and building a life again in their own country.

Most of the refugees live in the four camps in Rwanda and are totally dependent on international assistance. Until security conditions improve DRC refugees are reluctant to return home. Burundian refugees however, could potentially return home safely and UNHCR has been promoting return to Burundi since July 2006. With little prospect of local integration in Rwanda, mainly because of a land shortage, repatriation and resettlement are the only options that can be pursued to find a long-lasting solution for refugees.

Country Operations Profile

Working environment

The context

The social and political climate in Rwanda remains stable. The national assembly has been dissolved and a new Parliament was elected in September 2008. UNHCR works closely with the Government of Rwanda, which provides asylum for some 59,000 people from surrounding countries.

Notable recent developments include Rwanda's accession to membership in the East African Community (EAC). As the EAC's policy on freedom of movement and labour will have an impact on refugees in Rwanda from within the bloc, UNHCR and the EAC are discussing measures to safeguard asylum rights. Rwanda is also set to become a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 2009. It remains to be seen how this will affect persons of concern to the Office.

In June 2008, UNHCR and the Government conducted a verification and profiling exercise for camp-based and urban Burundian refugees. The results will be used to develop a comprehensive durable solutions strategy for all these Burundians.

In July 2008, a Tripartite Technical Working Group comprising UNHCR and the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, started discussions to reach agreement on the repatriation of nationals of both countries.

UNHCR is relocating refugees who have remained for extended periods in transit centres to camp sites provided by the Government.

The needs

Participatory assessments in 2007 showed that all refugee children were enrolled in primary schools, but only 20 per cent of girls managed to reach the secondary level. The lack of opportunities for income-generating activities and education, and the sale of food rations by refugees to cater for other basic needs, present further challenges. Moreover, standards for shelter, water and sanitation have not been met.

Main objectives

• Protect and assist refugees from the DRC and Burundi and asylum-seekers from other countries.

• Improve shelter, water supplies, sanitation and educational facilities in three camps hosting some 50,000 DRC refugees.

• Facilitate the voluntary return of refugees to the DRC.

• Help the Government to pursue the promotion of the voluntary repatriation of Rwandan refugees and create income-generating activities for them.

• Strengthen the national authorities' refugee status determination (RSD) capacity.

Key targets

• The capacity of the National Refugee Council to conduct RSD is increased and the backlog of asylum claims cleared.

• A countrywide verification and profiling exercise is completed.

• All refugees are given identity cards.

• Some 59,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are protected and assisted.

• Living conditions in the camps are improved; standards for the water, sanitation, health and shelter sectors are met.

• Some 10,000 Rwandan refugees are repatriated and receive enhanced returnee packages; returnees with specific needs receive assistance to reintegrate socially and economically.

Strategy and activities

Rwanda hosts some 59,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. Of that number 56,200 are from the DRC and 2,770 from Burundi. Approximately 55,000 refugees are sheltered in the three camps. Plans for voluntary repatriation or local integration of Burundian refugees in Kigeme camp were postponed in 2008 due to security concerns in the DRC and Burundi, as well as problems with the land allocation process.

Some of the 327 Burundian refugees who fled to Rwanda in 1972 with protection, medical or security concerns will be assessed for resettlement, as their prospects for local integration are limited by the scarcity of land and lack of economic opportunities.

Protection will be provided to all refugees. Camp-based and urban refugees with specific needs will be assisted. The Government will issue identity cards for refugees using data from the profiling and verification exercise. UNHCR will support the National Refugee Council by providing equipment and staff training in RSD to help clear the backlog of asylum claims.

UNHCR will continue to support the discussions which began in 2008 between the Governments of Rwanda and of the DRC on the voluntary repatriation of refugees from each country, and pursue the search for durable solutions for those unable or unwilling to repatriate.

More than 70,000 Rwandan refugees remain in exile. Their reluctance to return is mainly due to the ongoing Gacaca process and difficulties in socio-economic reintegration. In 2009, UNHCR expects to support the return of up to 10,000 returnees. All returnees will be medically screened and receive returnee packages before being transported to their districts of origin.

Despite having withdrawn from direct involvement in reintegration activities since 1999, UNHCR will promote close cooperation between UN agencies and other development actors on reintegration activities, especially for those returning to urban areas. Furthermore, the Office will monitor the socio-economic reintegration of these returnees and work with its partners to resolve conflicts in their districts of origin, particularly over land.

Constraints

UNHCR had planned to repatriate all Burundians in 2008 and close the camp in Kigeme, facilitating voluntary returns to eastern DRC. However, the peace agreements, signed by the Government and rebel groups at the Goma Conference in January 2008, as well as a ceasefire accord, have not been implemented. Repatriation is being hindered by insecure conditions in both the DRC and Burundi, and difficulties with socio-economic reintegration in the latter.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

In line with the UN's Delivering as One initiative, UNHCR will pursue strategic partnerships with agencies such as UNICEF, WFP and UNIFEM. It will also participate in the UN Inter-Agency Task force in areas that are relevant to its mandate, such as child protection, sexual and gender-based violence, and HIV and AIDS.

UNHCR will reinforce its partnership with the national authorities, other UN agencies, its implementing partners and donors in order to mainstream refugee and returnee issues into national poverty reduction strategies.

Regular cross-border meetings will be held by UNHCR offices in the region to assess the progress of the organized voluntary repatriation of Rwandan, Burundian and DRC refugees to their respective countries.

Financial information

The annual budget remained stable over the past five years with a slight increase due to the new arrival of DRC refugees in Rwanda's transit centres. The 2009 increase is due to the Global Needs Assessment initiative.