- Title: ZAIRE: ZAIREAN TROOPS EXPEL THOUSANDS OF RWANDAN REFUGEES
- Date: 21st August 1995
- Summary: NEAR GOMA, ZAIRE (AUGUST 21, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV REFUGEES WITH BELONGINGS STANDING BY TRUCK 0.07 2. SV UNHCR WORKERS HELPING LIFT MAN ON MATTRESS INTO BACK OF CAR 0.19 3. SV INDIAN UNITED NATIONS SOLDIERS STANDING 0.24 4. SV REFUGEES WAITING WITH BELONGINGS, STANDING IN QUEUES (4 SHOTS) 0.54 5. SLV RED CROSS WORKERS
- Embargoed: 5th September 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEAR GOMA, ZAIRE
- City:
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Reuters ID: LVA2FELPVPJ1I7APKAIM4LCR8WFK
- Story Text: Zairean troops expelled thousands of Rwandan refugees on Tuesday (August 22), forcing 60,000 others to flee their camps amid reports of looting, beatings and rapes.
At Mugunga camp near the Zairean town of Goma, soldiers resumed deportations by rounding up refugees at random at gunpoint, forcing them onto buses and trucks and dumping them on the border with Rwanda.
Roadsides swarmed with men, women and children preparing to leave and United Nations (U.N.) officials at the scene said the situation was increasingly tense after troops robbed and beat up refugees.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Information Officer Chris Bowers said they did not know what to do next, as the Zairean authorities said they wanted to close the Mugunga camp, home to about 150,000 Rwandan refugees.
Seven refugees with injuries were transferred from Mugunga camp hospital to Goma. Sporadic gunfire was heard in the camp overnight and aid workers reported gunshot wounds to several refugees.
Zaire expelled 1,981 Rwandan Hutu refugees from Mugunga on Monday -- nearly half of them children apparently because they are the easiest for soldiers to scoop up and put on buses and trucks.
The expulsions violate international law and the Tutsi- dominated Rwandan government, which took power after a rebel victory last July, has appealed for international help to deal with the influx.
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