UNHCR is encouraged by the strong desire of the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda to have their nationals who are now refugees in their respective countries return home. Officials of the two countries met in Goma in eastern DRC to discuss the first steps in the return of their nationals, estimated at more than 150,000. The two-day tripartite gathering, which ended yesterday, was facilitated by UNHCR.

According to Congolese authorities, some 100,000 Rwandans have been living in the eastern DRC since 1994 following the genocide that killed nearly a million people. The Congolese currently in Rwanda have fled from successive conflicts that plagued the eastern region since 1996.

Later repeated attacks by armed elements in eastern DRC drove thousands of Congolese into exile. However, the overwhelming majority them - some 1.4 million -- are internally displaced within the region and survive on humanitarian aid.

Both the DRC and Rwanda were open about the existing challenges, especially in North Kivu, where the majority of the Congolese have fled old and new conflicts. Persistent hostilities pose a threat to the Congolese in Rwanda. Some 83 percent of the 53,000 Congolese in Rwanda have expressed the desire to return home, according to a survey conducted late last year. However, they would first want the DRC government to end the perennial security problems in the areas of return in North Kivu.

During the meeting, the DRC was urged to improve the security and living conditions in returnee areas to guarantee sustainable returns. The security situation in North Kivu has deteriorated since the start of 2009 following increased attacks against civilians by the so called Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Reprisal attacks by the Hutu rebel group have displaced more than 160,000 people in the last three months.

The meeting also agreed to speedily identify Rwandans in the eastern DRC, the majority of whom had fled into inaccessible forest areas during the joint DRC-Rwanda military operation in North Kivu in January but were now gradually returning back to their villages.

Since January 2009, UNHCR has assisted nearly 5,000 Rwandans to return home. We provide the returnees with transport to transit centres and back home, and non-food items such as blankets, sleeping mats and kitchen sets. UNHCR is strengthening its presence in Masisi, Kitchanga and Lubero, north of Goma, to have better access and assist the IDPs and returnees.

1. • UN human rights chief announces release date for DR Congo Mapping Report (September 2, 2010)
2. • Key excerpts from UN report on Rwandan army genocide in DR Congo (August 27, 2010)
3. • UN report says Rwandan army committed genocide in DR Congo (August 26, 2010)
4. • Two Suspects Arrested in Attack on MONUSCO Base (August 20, 2010)
5. • Huge DR Congo gold mine to open, displacing 15,000 (July 22, 2010)
6. • Rights Group Says Arms Transport Needs Regulation (July 19, 2010)
7. • Congo Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Independence (June 30, 2010)
8. • U.S. Official Sees Improvement in Africa's Great Lakes Region (May 26, 2010)
9. • Great Lakes regional body calls for free, fair elections in member states (May 23, 2010)
10. • Great Lakes states meet in Uganda over conflict minerals (May 23, 2010)
11. • African Leaders Discuss Nile River Dispute (May 23, 2010)
12. • 54 FDLR Rebels Relocated from North Kivu to Katanga (May 4, 2010)
13. • Mazembe, Esperance, Ahly advance in Champions League (April 3, 2010)
14. • Great Lakes countries to hold economic meeting (February 17, 2010)
15. • U.S. Senator Durbin Calls on Rwanda to Name Rebels Involved in Genocide (February 16, 2010)
16. • UN agency assisting thousands uprooted by insecurity in eastern DR Congo (January 26, 2010)
17. • DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi to hold meeting of chiefs of general staff (January 18, 2010)
18. • DR Congo says ex-rebel chief Nkunda to be extradited from Rwanda in 2010 (January 18, 2010)
19. • Congo army reports 1,200 FDLR rebels killed since February (December 10, 2009)
20. • Amnesty International: more prosecutions should follow for war crimes in the Kivus (November 19, 2009)
21. • Germany arrests top Rwanda rebels (November 17, 2009)
22. • Congo rebel fight 'must continue' (November 10, 2009)
23. • DR Congo says 14,419 refugees repatriated from Zambia in 2009 (November 4, 2009)
24. • Real prospect of ending fighting in eastern DR Congo, says top UN envoy (October 16, 2009)
25. • Congolese "brutally deported" from Angola (October 6, 2009)
26. • DR Congo deports genocide suspect (September 20, 2009)
27. • Congo Ready to Settle Displaced People, Says Government Spokesman (September 10, 2009)
28. • Restoration of DRC-Uganda Ties Shows New Regional Cooperation (August 31, 2009)
29. • 350 Rwandan Hutu militiamen killed during Operation Kimia II in South Kivu province (August 29, 2009)
30. • UN: LRA Attacks in Eastern Congo Displace Thousands (August 28, 2009)

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