Rwanda Genocide Research Paper

How has the environment of Zaire been affected by the refugees of the Rwandan genocide?

The mass movement of about 2 million Rwandan refugees to Zaire occurred in 1994. The refugees moved not only to Zaire, but they also moved to Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda. Kivu, where the majority of the Rwandan refugees were located, was already the most overpopulated region in Zaire. After the refugees moved in, the population was estimated at 8 million, nearly 2 million more than the earlier population. Moreover, Kivu had a fragile ecosystem. The organizations in charge of the refugees were not able to protect the environment very well. This was very important because a neglect of environmental factors could have caused further population displacement.
Extensive deforestation, including uprooting, was resulting in accelerated soil erosion in most camps. The problem was further aggravated by the onset of the rainy season. While erosion could be observed in and around refugee camps in Goma, the problem was very serious, and often critical, in the camps around Bukavu, which were often on steep slopes and on alluvial soil. Absence of terracing and proper drainage channels, as well as a near-total destruction of vegetation of theses slopes by the refugees, meant serious erosion and formation of ever-deepening gorges with each heavy rainfall. The soil erosion and mudslide problems were likely to become increasingly serious in the future with each rainy season and heavy rain. The problem had become so critical that even if the refugees were moved out of the camps on the hill slopes of Bukavu, the erosion problems would have remained until and unless the slopes were properly rehabilitated. Another serious problem in the refugee camps was the environmentally safe disposal of human, medical, and solid wastes. Disposal of human wastes was becoming a critical issue since generally no waste treatment was being done at any camp. The problem was particularly difficult for the Kibumba camp, which was located on volcanic rock, which meant that digging pit latrines was problematical. Natural depressions were being further excavated and converted into latrines, but
About 140,000 refugees returned, mostly by themselves, in the first three months after the original exodus. However, by September 1994 rumors of violence within Rwanda had drastically reduced the rate of return and nearly stopped it by early 1995. On the basis of extensive field investigations, the environmental impacts of the Rwandan refugees in North and South Kivu were significantly more serious and critical than the Zairian government and the various joint agencies realized. The most serious environmental impact was undoubtedly the deforestation of the Virunga National Park, which was not only an international treasure in terms of biodiversity but was also a major tropical forest. The park and the refugee camps could not co-exist with freedom.

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