§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the return of displaced persons to Rwanda. [74895]
§ Clare ShortBy mid 1994, out of Rwanda's population of roughly 8 million at the beginning of the 1990's, some 2 million had become internally displaced and a further 2 million had fled as refugees to neighbouring countries. The Government of Rwanda's policy of national reconciliation and its success in establishing a peaceful and stable country have led to the return of the vast majority of these displaced persons and refugees to their communities.
There are three significant returns of displaced persons to Rwanda: of disarmed ex-FAR/Interahamwe soldiers and their families from the DRC; of Rwandan refugees from the eastern DRC, and; of Rwandan refugees from Tanzania.
The Government of Rwanda hopes that some 25,000 ex-FAR/Interhamwe will be repatriated as the Pretoria Agreement is implemented. The Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme provides for the return of ex-combatants and their families to their communities, for the counselling of ex-combatants and the communities to which they are returning, and significant economic assistance to ease the reintegration of ex-combatants into society. Special packages of assistance are available for child, female and disabled ex-combatants. The Government hopes that their withdrawal from the DRC will serve to increase the flow of the ex-combatants into the Programme. We judge that the Programme is well designed and well established, and have committed US$5 million to support it. We have also committed US$25 million to the equivalent regional demobilisation programme.
UNHCR estimate that there were some 23,000 Rwanda refugees scattered through the Eastern DRC as at July 2002. UNHCR is assisting with the slow but steady return of these refugees to Rwanda. They advise 186W that they have the structures and resources to continue to provide adequate food and shelter for this population.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of progress being made in Rwanda to achieve the 2015 targets for universal primary education. [74892]
§ Clare ShortRwanda is largely on track to achieve the 2015 target for universal primary education and. in fact, has set a national target of achieving UPE by 2010. Primary enrolment has increased by over 50 per cent. since 1996, to nearly 1.5 million children in 2001. This represents a net enrolment ratio of around 75 per cent. for both boys and girls.
There are still serious concerns about the quality of education provision at primary level and repetition (32 per cent.) and dropout rates (14 per cent.) are high, even by regional standards. The government of Rwanda has committed itself to improving the quality of education at all levels and reducing the wastage caused by unnecessary repetition.
The UK government is providing a package of technical assistance worth approximately £13 million to support these efforts.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of children she estimates are enrolled in(a) private education and (b) state funded education in Rwanda; and what efforts have been made to increase state funded education in Rwanda. [74889]
§ Clare ShortThere were an estimated 1.5 million children enrolled in primary schools in Rwanda in 2001. Private schooling plays a minimal role, accounting for less than 0.8 per cent. of the pupils. In the secondary sector, approximately 45 per cent. of the 140,000 students attend schools in the private sector, including church and community schools.
The government of Rwanda has steadily increased its investment in the education sector over the past five years and in 2001 education made up over 25 per cent. of total government expenditure.
The government of Rwanda has committed itself to achieving Universal Primary Education by 2010 and the UK government, along with other partners, will continue to provide support to this effort (including £10M budget support in 2002 which was linked to the education sector).
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessments her Department has made regarding the adequacy of shelter and food supplies for the returning population in Rwanda. [74894]
§ Clare ShortThere are three significant returns of displaced persons to Rwanda: of disarmed ex-FAR/Interahamwe soldiers and their families from the DRC; of Rwandan refugees from the eastern DRC, and; of Rwandan refugees from Tanzania.
The Government of Rwanda hopes that some 25,000 ex-FAR/Interhamwe will be repatriated from the DRC as the Pretoria Agreement is implemented. The Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme 187W provides support, including economic support, for the return and resettlement of these ex-combatants and their families into their communities. Tailored packages of assistance are available for child, female, chronically-ill and disabled ex-combatants. This, together with support from existing social and familial networks, should ensure that ex-combatants and their families are very well placed to meet their needs for food and shelter. My Department has provided £3.5 million for the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme and a further US $25 million to the equivalent regional Programme.
UNHCR estimate that there were some 23,000 Rwanda refugees scattered through the Eastern DRC as at July 2002. UNHCR is assisting with the slow but steady return of these refugees to Rwanda. They advise that they have the structures and resources to continue to provide adequate food and shelter for this population.
In October 2002, the Governments of Rwanda and Tanzania and the UNHCR signed the Tripartite Agreement allowing for the return of the 15,000–20,000 Rwanda refugees currently in Tanzania. UNHCR advise that they have the structures and resources to provide adequate food and shelter for this population.
My Department will continue to monitor these exercises closely.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidance she has given concerning the repatriation and re-integration of soldiers and ex-fighters to Rwanda from the DRC. [74890]
§ Clare ShortI have congratulated President Kagame on his commitment to implementing the terms of the Pretoria Agreement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by withdrawing Rwandan forces from the DRC. The UK has joined with the international community in condemning the renewed outbreak of hostilities by armed groups in the Eastern DRC following the Rwandan withdrawal, and calling upon all those directly involved or involved in supplying the armed groups to cease forthwith.
We strongly support Rwandan plans for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of its own soldiers and those Rwandan rebels in Congo who choose to return to Rwanda. We have committed $25 million to the World Bank's Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme for the Great Lakes region, under which Rwanda and the DRC will benefit, and are contributing a further $5 million directly to the Rwandan National Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme. But it is essential that hostilities in the DRC cease immediately, and that the parties to the Inter Congolese Dialogue move rapidly to agreement on an inclusive transitional government, so that a comprehensive demobilisation and reintegration process can get under way.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions have taken place with the Government of Rwanda concerning access to food, water and shelter for refugees and internally displaced persons in Rwanda. [74893]
188W
§ Clare ShortThere are three groups of refugees or internally displaced persons in Rwanda: Congolese refugees based in camps at Kibuye and Byumba; Rwandan refugees returning from Tanzania, and; Rwandan refugees returning from the eastern DRC. UNHCR is responsible for assisting the return of all three groups.
My Department, acting through the local EU Presidency, has raised concerns with the Government of Rwanda over the intimidation of the Congolese refugees at Kibuye and Byumba, including through the closure of schools and the termination of supplies of firewood. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, drawing on UNHCR's advice.
In October 2002, the Governments of Rwanda and Tanzania and the UNHCR signed the Tripartite Agreement allowing for the return of the 15,000–20,000 Rwanda refugees currently in Tanzania. UNHCR advise that they have the structures and resources to provide adequate water, food and shelter for this population. DFID has made no representations to the Government of Rwanda on this exercise, but we will continue to monitor the situation carefully.
UNHCR estimate that there were some 23,000 Rwanda refugees scattered through the Eastern DRC as at July 2002. UNHCR is assisting with the slow but steady return of these refugees to Rwanda. They advise that they have the structures and resources to continue to provide adequate water, food and shelter for this population. DFID has made no representations to the Government of Rwanda on this exercise, but we will continue to monitor the situation carefully.