DRC REFUGEES TO RWANDA - UNHCR PREPARING FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 001120

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF PHUM RW
SUBJECT: DRC REFUGEES TO RWANDA - UNHCR PREPARING FOR
POSSIBLE LARGE FLOWS


Classified By: Ambassador Michael R. Arietti, reason 1.4 (B/D)


1. (SBU) Summary: UNHCR Kigali Representative Annette Nyekan
and External Relations Officer Christina Alfirev met with
Poloff recently to discuss current movements of refugees to
Rwanda from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Refugee flows to Rwanda have slowed recently, despite the
outbreak of conflict in eastern DRC. Although the Rwanda -
DRC border has been reinforced and closed to combatants,
refugees are still able to cross. UNHCR Uganda, however, has
received many people fleeing the situation in the Kivus.
UNHCR and the Government of Rwanda are making preparations to
accept large numbers of refugees should the flow shift to
Rwanda. End summary.


2. (C) According to UNHCR Representative Annette Nyekan and
External Relations Officer Christina Alfirev, UNHCR Kigali
figures show fewer refugees have arrived in Rwanda since the
most recent outbreak of hostilities in eastern DRC than in
previous months. In September, there were 1271 arrivals,
1149 in October, 717 in November. As of mid-December, UNHCR
had recorded 200 new arrivals. Alfirev reported most of the
refugees were women and children who expected fighting in the
region to continue, and that many of them had come to Rwanda
from areas controlled by renegade general Laurent Nkunda.
She also noted a number of refugees had left DRC to avoid
being forced by increased fighting into Internally Displaced
Persons (IDP) camps, where they fear they will be threatened
because of their Tutsi ethnicity. She said a few Rwandese
were crossing over to DRC and returning to Rwanda, trying to
present themselves as Congolese refugees eligible for
assistance.


3. (C) Alfirev said that while UNHCR Rwanda has received a
diminishing number of Congolese refugees, UNHCR in Uganda has
had "huge" arrival numbers from North Kivu. Alfirev said
flows from South Kivu, where recent conflict has been less
intense, have been fairly steady, and suggested some refugees
from that region may be fleeing poverty more than active
conflict. She said the Rwanda-DRC border had been reinforced
and closed to combatants, though refugees are still able to
cross.


4. (C) Nyekan outlined UNHCR's preparations to deal with the
possibility of a much higher influx of Congolese refugees if
the security situation deteriorates. UNHCR is regularly
updating its contingency plan and it serves as co-chair with
the Prime Minister's office on a disaster management task
force that includes other UN agencies and NGOs. Nyekan
reported UNHCR Rwanda is in constant contact with regional
UNHCR offices and field staff, and they are encouraging the
Government of Rwanda (GOR) to convene a meeting of other
humanitarian actors as part of the preparation process.
Nyekan said UNHCR is now on alert, but cannot move to
emergency status until the GOR formally declares a state of
emergency.


5. (C) UNHCR is assessing its current capacities to house and
support new refugees. Nyekan said there have been
discussions with the GOR about the possibility of opening
another full camp for a minimum of 10,000 people, and
potential sites have been determined. Nyekan said a transit
center or a smaller camp would be insufficient to meet
short-term needs. In the meantime, UNHCR is amassing
non-food items and examining trucking capability along the
Rwanda-DRC border, should movement of refugees and supplies
become necessary. Nyekan emphasized that UNHCR is currently
in "maintenance mode" in Rwanda, and a shift to emergency
services would require a concentrated effort from UN
agencies, the GOR, and other NGOs. Nyekan predicted UNHCR
would need between four to six weeks to be totally prepared
for a large number of new arrivals from DRC, but said an
emergency response team based in Tanzania could be mobilized
within 24 hours should such a situation arise.


6. (SBU) Comment: Recent refugee flows from DRC to Rwanda do
not reflect the violent situation in the Kivus, as many are
currently fleeing to Uganda. However, UNHCR Kigali and the
GOR are preparing for a possible humanitarian crisis on this
side of the border should refugee flows turn toward Rwanda.
UNHCR is not yet ready to handle a large influx of fleeing
Congolese, but is hurrying to be able to do so. End comment.




ARIETTI