The Irish Government understands that a number of Rwandan refugees, along with Burundian refugees and internally displaced Zairois remain in eastern Zaire. These refugees have been gathered in three main camps at Amisi, Shabunda and Tingi Tingi. The World Food Programme, United Nations High Commission for Refugees and UNICEF have been providing relief supplies to these refugees since the middle of December 1996. The Irish Government is supporting the international relief effort from the £2.25 million pounds which was allocated to the Great Lakes region at the beginning of November 1996.
I understand that the international agencies engaged in the humanitarian effort have recently been assured by local authorities in eastern Zaire that access to the refugee camps will not be restricted. This is a welcome development as humanitarian efforts had prevously been hampered by security difficulties and problems in relation to flight clearances and access to refugees. The World Food Programme, which is the lead international agency responsible for supplying emergency food supplies to the camps, has been airlifting emergency relief supplies into eastern Zaire on a twice-daily basis since 6 February and I understand that this has improved the health and nutritional status of the refugees in the camps.
I am aware that both Commissioner Emma Boniro and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ms Sadako Ogata, have visited the refugee camps at Tingi Tingi during the last month. I understand that, following extensive discussions with Zairean authorities and international aid agencies, Ms Ogata has expressed herself satisfied that the UNHCR and other international agencies will be given all assistance possible to carry out their mandate.
While welcoming and supporting the continuing humanitarian efforts of the United Nations and other international agencies in eastern Zaire, the Government recognises that the security situation throughout the region is precarious and remains concerned that future military activity in Zaire may affect the ability of the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the refugees. The Government will continue to monitor this situation closely as it develops over the coming days.
