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17/08/2004
Safe resettlement of Burundi massacre survivors to begin
Discussions between the UN and Burundi government have begun today into the transfer of survivors of last week’s massacre of Congolese refugees to a safe new camp.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that work would begin shortly on a site of safe refuge following Friday night’s slaughter which claimed the lives of 150 people.
The new camp will be at Giharo in the south-eastern province of Rutana, about 120 kilometres from the Burundi capital of Bujumbura – and far away from its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where the massacre happened. The border area has been given the second most dangerous rating by the UN security alert system.
“We hope to begin relocating the refugees there as soon as basic services have been set up,” UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis said.
The Gatumba camp, 15 kilometres outside Bujumbura near the DRC border town of Uvira, sheltered 860 Congolese Banyamulenge (ethnic Tutsi) before the massacre in which 151 people died. Corpses were mutilated and decapitated, others burned beyond recognition, heads were smashed in and mothers were killed while trying to protect their children with their own bodies, according to UNHCR reports.
Gatumba was one of three transit centres sheltering 20,000 Congolese fleeing the DRC's South Kivu province where disgruntled commanders protesting the alleged mistreatment of the Banyamulenge rebelled in June.
Burundi's ethnic Hutu rebel Forces Nationales de Liberation (FNL), the only group which has not joined the country's peace process, claimed responsibility for the massacre.
Security has been increased in the two other transit centres at Karurama and Rugombo, and UN peacekeepers, deployed in missions in both countries, have heightened security precautions on either side of the frontier.
(gmcg)
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that work would begin shortly on a site of safe refuge following Friday night’s slaughter which claimed the lives of 150 people.
The new camp will be at Giharo in the south-eastern province of Rutana, about 120 kilometres from the Burundi capital of Bujumbura – and far away from its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where the massacre happened. The border area has been given the second most dangerous rating by the UN security alert system.
“We hope to begin relocating the refugees there as soon as basic services have been set up,” UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis said.
The Gatumba camp, 15 kilometres outside Bujumbura near the DRC border town of Uvira, sheltered 860 Congolese Banyamulenge (ethnic Tutsi) before the massacre in which 151 people died. Corpses were mutilated and decapitated, others burned beyond recognition, heads were smashed in and mothers were killed while trying to protect their children with their own bodies, according to UNHCR reports.
Gatumba was one of three transit centres sheltering 20,000 Congolese fleeing the DRC's South Kivu province where disgruntled commanders protesting the alleged mistreatment of the Banyamulenge rebelled in June.
Burundi's ethnic Hutu rebel Forces Nationales de Liberation (FNL), the only group which has not joined the country's peace process, claimed responsibility for the massacre.
Security has been increased in the two other transit centres at Karurama and Rugombo, and UN peacekeepers, deployed in missions in both countries, have heightened security precautions on either side of the frontier.
(gmcg)
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16 August 2004
Britain condemns massacre at Burundi refugee camp
The British government has joined the United Nations in strongly condemning the massacre of at least 150 people at a refugee camp in Burundi. Scores were killed and over a hundred injured when the Gatumba camp, which lies 16km northwest of Bujumbura near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was attacked by rebel forces.
Britain condemns massacre at Burundi refugee camp
The British government has joined the United Nations in strongly condemning the massacre of at least 150 people at a refugee camp in Burundi. Scores were killed and over a hundred injured when the Gatumba camp, which lies 16km northwest of Bujumbura near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was attacked by rebel forces.
20 August 2004
UN warns against revenge over Tutsi refugee massacre
The UN has warned Burundi's armed forces against retaliation for last week's massacre of Tutsis by rebel forces as it may plunge the region back into further turmoil.
UN warns against revenge over Tutsi refugee massacre
The UN has warned Burundi's armed forces against retaliation for last week's massacre of Tutsis by rebel forces as it may plunge the region back into further turmoil.
08 October 2003
Up to 65 people 'massacred' in Congo
The UN peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported that it has discovered 65 bodies, mostly children, in what appears to have been a massacre over the weekend.
Up to 65 people 'massacred' in Congo
The UN peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported that it has discovered 65 bodies, mostly children, in what appears to have been a massacre over the weekend.
17 August 2004
UN suspends Iraqi repatriation over security fears
The UN refugee agency has temporarily suspended its convoys for Iraqis wishing to return from neighbouring Iran because of the fighting raging in the south of the country and a housing shortage in the north.
UN suspends Iraqi repatriation over security fears
The UN refugee agency has temporarily suspended its convoys for Iraqis wishing to return from neighbouring Iran because of the fighting raging in the south of the country and a housing shortage in the north.
27 February 2004
UN's Afghan repatriation programme to restart
The UN's refugee agency will next week resume repatriating refugees to Afghanistan from Pakistan, three months after one of its staff members was murdered. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today that it expected to help about 400,000 refugees return from Pakistan this year – on top of the 1.
UN's Afghan repatriation programme to restart
The UN's refugee agency will next week resume repatriating refugees to Afghanistan from Pakistan, three months after one of its staff members was murdered. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today that it expected to help about 400,000 refugees return from Pakistan this year – on top of the 1.
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