In the past two years, another two million refugees returned to Rwanda. Thus the Government of Rwanda, and the international community, have had to reintegrate nearly one-third of the country's population since 1995. Current situation The Government of National Unity, in place since the 1994 genocide, has expressed the wish for all Rwandans to return to help rebuild the country. The Rwandan population also remains traumatized by the events of 1994. The Government's efforts to reintegrate people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds has not proven easy, especially given the difficult economic conditions they must endure.
Most refugees are women, children and elderly people who require special attention.
This population is Tutsi in origin and Kinyarwanda-speaking. Rwanda also hosts some 3,000 urban refugees, most of whom are from Burundi and the DRC, who receive assistance on an individual basis. The agency is also concluding activities which were not implemented during 1997 and 1998, mainly because of lack of funds. The outstanding reintegration activity remains the construction of 25,000 new houses and associated latrine facilities, water supplies and logistical support. In 1998, refugees from the DRC were transferred to Gihembe refugee camp in Byumba and Burundi refugees were consolidated in Kigeme refugee camp in Gikongoro.