Rwanda: Situation of Tutsi orphans, including their number, government projects and organizations that provide help to them, names of orphanages in Kakiru (Kacyiru) and type of assistance they have provided to orphans; treatment of Tutsi orphans by the government and by members of the Hutu ethnic group (2001)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 19 February 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RWA38191.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Rwanda: Situation of Tutsi orphans, including their number, government projects and organizations that provide help to them, names of orphanages in Kakiru (Kacyiru) and type of assistance they have provided to orphans; treatment of Tutsi orphans by the government and by members of the Hutu ethnic group (2001), 19 February 2002, RWA38191.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bea420.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific information on the situation of Tutsi orphans could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
During telephone interviews with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Collectif des ligues et organisations de défense des droits de l'homme (CLADHO), a Rwandan human rights organization (11 Feb. 2002), the director of Rwandan SOS Villages d'enfants (14 Feb. 2002) and the Rwandan Secretary of State with the Ministry of Local Administration and Social Affairs (15 Feb. 2002) all stated that there is no way of knowing whether an orphan is Tutsi, Hutu or Twa, as no statistical data are collected on the ethnic origin of orphans.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, "[t]here are an estimated 400,000 orphans, including child-headed families" in Rwanda (June 2001).
During the above- mentioned telephone interview, the Rwandan Secretary of State with the Ministry of Local Administration and Social Affairs stated that, among thousands of orphans in Rwanda, only about 3,600 live in 26 orphanages (15 Feb. 2002). Among them, two are based in the Kacyiru neighborhood of Kigali and are run respectively by SOS Kinderdorf International and by the Red Cross (ibid.).
The Rwandan Secretary of State explained that different international and national organizations, including UNICEF, the Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), IVSI, Barakabaho and Bamporeze are involved in helping Rwandan orphans (ibid.). The assistance provided includes clothing, shelter, food, education and health care (ibid.).
The government of Rwanda also contributes 5 per cent of its internal revenue to the Assistance Fund for Survivors of the Genocide (Fonds d'assistance aux rescapés du génocide–FARG) (ibid.). Under FARG, orphans of the 1994 genocide benefit from free health care and free education (ibid.).
During a 14 February 2002 telephone interview, the director of SOS Villages d'enfants, located in Kacyiru, Kigali, provided the following information:
There are two Kacyiru–based orphanages: SOS Villages d'enfants and the Red Cross orphanage. The first is part of the SOS Kinderdorf International network, while the latter is led and funded by both the Red Cross-Rwanda and the Red Cross-Belgium. In both orphanages, the assistance provided to orphans includes clothing, shelter, food, education and health care.
For additional information on SOS Kinderdorf International, please refer to its website at
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Collectif des ligues et organisations de défense des droits de l'homme (CLADHO). 11 February 2002. Telephone interview with a representative.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. June 2001. Annual Report: Rwanda.
Ministry of Local Administration and Social Affairs, Kigali. 15 February 2002. Telephone interview with the Secretary of State.
SOS Villages d'enfants, Kigali. 14 February 2002. Telephone interview with the director.
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential. 2001 to present.
IRB Databases.
Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent. 2001 to present.
LEXIS/NEXIS.
Resource Centre country file. Rwanda.
Websites including:
Amnesty International Online.
BBC Africa.
Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Immigration & Naturalisation Directorate (IND), UK.
International Crisis Group (ICG).
Observatoire de l'Afrique centrale.
MISNA.
Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR), Suisse.
Panafrican News Agency (PANA).
Reliefweb.
Le Soir.
