II ~I ~ ~II~ ~~ ~II ~ ~II - IFES

IFES Pre-electionAssessmentBurundiPerhaps 200,000 refugees are living in Tanzania, most of them since the massacre of 1972.Another 19,000 refugees are living in Rwanda and 15,000 more in Zaire. In the past few years,there has been a gradual repatriation of refugees on a voluntary basis, although this tendencywas interrupted by outbreaks of violence in 1988 and 1991. Large numbers of refugees wholeft the country in the wake of the violence in those years came back very soon after theviolence had passed.Burundi is also host to refugees from neighboring countries. The IFES team visited a refugeecamp where Rwandans had been living since 1991. The team was informed that there are stillmore refugees moving into the camp from Rwanda where the political situation rem.unsexplosive.The team also visited areas where repatriation had taken place. Burundi, with the assistanceof the international community and the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission forRefugees) has a role in helping returning refugees resettle in their native country. However, thelevel of activity is constrained. The absence of a general amnesty is a significant impediment.Sincere efforts are being made to accommodate and find suitable land for the repatriates. Theteam spoke to several of the newly returned Burundians and got the impression that thesepeople have a fair chance to make a new start in their homeland.27