Forced repatriation of DRC refugees continues

Over 6,000 Tutsi refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who fled to Rwanda in the 1990s to escape ethnic persecution, have been returned to northeastern DRC in what the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers has described as "forced repatriation".

Figures collected by the Rwandan local government ministry showed that since 31 August a total of 4,139 had returned from Gihembe camp in Byumba province (central Rwanda) and almost 2,000 from Kiziba in Kibuye province (western Rwanda), UNHCR spokeswoman Mika Inamahoro told IRIN. All of them had been transported to the Masisi region of North Kivu, although some were originally from other regions in the province - Walikale, Lubero, Rutshuru - or South Kivu, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed.

During a humanitarian assessment mission to the area last week, the new arrivals were found to be in "better condition" than local people, OCHA said. Concerns remained, however, that outbreaks of diseases could occur if sanitation facilities were not improved immediately. At present there were between three and six latrines, with a dozen under construction.

A deserted tea factory building just outside Kichanga, in the Masisi region, was being used to shelter the refugees, who were constructing huts on the same site.

Non-food items urgently needed by the refugees included plastic sheeting, blankets and soap, OCHA said. UNHCR confirmed that it would provide one-off emergency assistance of non-food items, such as cooking sets, jerry cans and matting.

Concerns have been expressed regarding potential conflicts between the refugees and local inhabitants. If both camps in Rwanda - which accommodated almost 32,000 refugees until the recent departures - were closed, the repatriated population would exceed the numbers of locals which could give rise to competition for local resources including food, OCHA said. The Virunga National Park, situated some kilometres from the factory, could also come under threat from refugees searching for firewood.

In a statement issued on 5 September, Ruud Lubbers, expressed "grave concern" over the apparent forced repatriation of the refugees, which was jointly organised by the government of Rwanda and the Rwanda-backed rebel group governing much of eastern DRC, the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma).

Local authorities have assured UNHCR that the process is entirely voluntary, but the refugees have claimed they are being intimidated into leaving, Ron Mponda deputy representative of UNHCR in Rwanda told IRIN. "They were told that if they don't return voluntarily, force will be used," he said.

Refugees in Gihembe camp, Byumba prefecture, had been warned by the authorities that this was their last chance to return home with assistance, UNHCR reported. Local authorities in Byumba were also reported to have given a deadline of 15 September to return home.

Most of the refugees are ethnic Tutsis - known as the Banyamulenge - who fled Hutu attacks in North Kivu in 1995 and 1996, in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994.