The plight of refugees and displaced persons in eastern Zaire is a matter of grave concern. Reports in recent days of attacks and killings in the Kisangani region and elsewhere are particularly worrying. I am extremely concerned also that it is proving difficult to provide food aid and other emergency assistance to those at risk in eastern Zaire. The Government unequivocally condemns any murders or other human rights abuses which may be taking place and deplores the disregard for the suffering of non-combatants shown by the parties to the conflict in Zaire.
We have expressed these concerns to the governments in the region who may have influence on the rebel alliance. Since last weekend the EU Troika and Special Envoy Ajello have made demarches to the Governments of Rwanda and Uganda to express the Union's concerns about the humanitarian situation. Mr Ajello has had meetings with President Museveni of Uganda and Mr Kabila. We have been in touch also with the US State Department about these concerns in advance of Ambassador Richardson's visit to the region.
The full facts of the situation in the Kisangani area remain unclear. They must be investigated fully and those found responsible for any atrocities brought to justice. An initial investigation has been carried out by a tripartite commission led by the UNHCR, which visited refugee camps in the area on Thursday last, 24 April. This identified the following priorities for further action to relocate refugees, to resume assistance when access is possible and to continue with the repatriation of refugees.
A team of UN human rights monitors is being deployed in the Kisangani region in the coming days. Ireland has agreed to provide IR£25,000 in support of this mission, aimed at preventing further human rights abuses. I should mention that the Irish NGO, Concern, which has been working continuously in the Great Lakes region for the past three years, has been authorised to begin operations in the Kisangani area. Concern will provide care for unaccompanied children.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs Ogata, said on Monday night that the fears which had been expressed at the end of last week that mass killings had taken place in several camps cannot be substantiated. Nonetheless, a large number of refugees, perhaps as many as 100,000 in the area south of Kisangani, remain in a precarious condition. Many of those in the bush are in danger of death from starvation or sickness unless humanitarian aid can reach them.
Following meetings with the leader of the rebel coalition, Mr Kabila, the UNHCR succeeded in obtaining his commitment to co-operate in the repatriation of remaining Rwandan refugees from eastern Zaire. The EU Troika and the Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, Mr Ajello, participated in the meeting with Mr Kabila. At a news conference following this meeting, Mr Kabila said that he attached two conditions to the agreed repatriation — first, that it be conducted by air and second that it be completed within 60 days from 1 May.
We welcome the important opportunity to resolve the refugee crisis offered by this agreement.Full advantage must be taken of this opportunity.Nevertheless, the time frame for the repatriation presents enormous logistical difficulties.Flexibility must be shown by the rebel side regarding their 60-day deadline. Mrs Ogata has stressed the importance of continued international pressure in this regard. The Irish Government has added its voice to that of European partners and others to ensure a successful outcome. Further pressure must be exerted also to ensure access to humanitarian aid.
I have just returned from this week's EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg which discussed the current situation in Zaire. In our conclusions on the Great Lakes region, the Council has called inter alia for the fulfilment of undertakings given by Mr. Kabila in relation to immediate access for the humanitarian agencies in Zaire as well as for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a peaceful and negotiated settlement. We have also expressed our deep concern at continuing reports of massive human rights violations and urged the UN to investigate them as quickly as possible.
As well as addressing immediate humanitarian concerns, initiatives by the EU and others have underscored the need for an early and negotiated settlement to the current conflict in Zaire. The five-point peace plan of Joint UN-OAU Special Representative Sahnoun, adopted by the Security Council in Resolution 1097, continues to provide the optimum framework for such a settlement. Both President Mobutu and Mr Kabila have accepted this plan. They agreed in Pretoria earlier this month on points of convergence which include a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement. The Government and our EU partners have been fully engaged in the intense international efforts to resolve the current crisis in eastern Zaire. We strongly support the Sahnoun plan and urge the conflicting parties to adhere to their public positions by bringing about an immediate cessation of hostilities and negotiations. We urge the parties to reinvigorate the progress which had been made towards talks, whether under President Mandela's initiative or an alternative framework. In this regard we welcome the current US mission to the Great Lakes region being led by Ambassador Richardson.
Irish aid to the Great Lakes has been as part of the concerted international effort to bring about peace, stability and reconciliation in the region. Our effort has been ongoing for three years. Since 1994, Irish aid has given almost IR£12.5 million in emergency and rehabilitation aid to the region. Deputies will be aware of the Governments balanced approach in providing this aid from reports to Dáil Éireann as well as from the briefings which have been given to the Joint Committee for Foreign Affairs and the sub-Committee on Development Co-operation.
Deputy O'Malley has asked for my views on whether it is appropriate for Ireland to assist the Rwandan Government. It is important to be clear about the issues at stake here. Since the appalling genocide in 1994, when almost 1 million people were brutally killed, the Government has contributed to international efforts to rebuild civil society in Rwanda. This is a difficult and daunting task, to say the least. It has to be pursued in the aftermath of a murderous civil war, which has left a legacy of distrust, disorganisation and administrative chaos for the authorities in Rwanda to cope with. It is against this background that Irish and other international assistance is delivered. In our case, just over IR£2 million of our assistance has been channelled through Government of Rwanda programmes. This money has been specifically targeted to support primary health care, the training of magistrates, the resettlement of refugees and the rehabilitation of genocide survivors, together with support for women's groups. I am satisfied from checks that we have carried out that Irish assistance is being used correctly and effectively.
I am well aware that our assistance to Rwandan Government rehabilitation programmes has been criticised in some quarters. However, the Deputy will be aware that a number of important organisations which have been working on the ground in the region for the past three years, including Trócaire and Concern, have expressed their strong support for the Governments approach.
A further IR£4.8 million has been disbursed, again since 1994, through Irish NGOs operating in Rwanda and through international organisations.Apart from providing shelter to genocide survivors and returning refugees from Zaire and Tanzania, a particular area of activity has been the improvement of prison conditions. Ireland has provided support through the UN system for refugee resettlement and for human rights monitoring by the UN Centre for Human Rights. Assistance has been provided also to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
In the Great Lakes region as a whole, 52 per cent of Irish emergency and rehabilitation aid for 1996 was given through NGOs. It is likely that a similar percentage of aid for the region will be disbursed through NGOs in 1997.
In tandem with the assistance given, the Government has remained in dialogue with the Rwandan authorities both bilaterally and as part of international efforts to encourage them in rebuilding the justice system and in respecting the human and political rights of all segments of society. Despite serious difficulties, significant progress has been made in passing legislation on genocide through Parliament and in starting the process of trials for those accused of perpetrating genocide in 1994. As has been pointed out on numerous occasions, unless those responsible for killings on all sides are brought to justice, there is little hope of breaking the cycle of murder and revenge with impunity which has characterised the region for decades.
It is important that such assistance be given to enable the situation in Rwanda to improve further so that, for example, the continuing influx of refugees does not act as a destabilising influence or give rise to human rights abuses. We can take heart from the fact that the massive return of around a million refugees to Rwanda before Christmas took place in a peaceful manner. The international community has a responsibility to work with all parties, including the Government of Rwanda, to build on the peaceful nature of this return and ensure that the returnees are fully integrated in Rwandan society.
