Burundi: Whether there is or was a displaced persons camp in the city of Mwaro; whether resident children attend the Buziracanda primary and secondary schools; whether the Association Dufatane Munda works or has worked at this camp; whether the Child Hope organization works in Burundi (1998-2007)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 30 November 2007 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BDI102676.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Burundi: Whether there is or was a displaced persons camp in the city of Mwaro; whether resident children attend the Buziracanda primary and secondary schools; whether the Association Dufatane Munda works or has worked at this camp; whether the Child Hope organization works in Burundi (1998-2007), 30 November 2007, BDI102676.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/47d6544220.html [accessed 19 May 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. |
Displaced persons camp in Mwaro
While no information on a displaced persons camp in the city of Mwaro, Burundi could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, a number of sources note the existence of a displaced persons camp in Mwaro province (UN 27-30 June 2005, 4; BBC 1 Apr. 2005; Burundi 30 Nov. 2007; NRC 10 Dec. 2007).
In 30 November 2007 correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, an official at the Embassy of Burundi in Ottawa noted that there is a [translation] "refugee camp in the Province of Mwaro" which was created to remove "Banyamulenge Congolese refugees" from the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (ibid.).
The Gihinga camp is located on "Gihinga colline, Kayokew commune," in Mwaro province (UN 27-30 June 2005, 4), approximately 50 kilometres away from Bujumbura (BBC 21 Sept. 2004). According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), "[t]he majority of refugees in Burundi live in two camps, Gasorwe and Gihinga Camps" (UN 27-30 June 2005, 4). In 2005, of the 7,577 Congolese displaced persons, 5,667 lived in Gasorwe camp (Muyinga province) while 1,910 lived in Gihinga Camp (ibid.). In 2004, the UNHCR also mentioned two camp sites in Mwaro province located at Gisozi; it was unclear from the article whether either camp was Gihinga (UN 27 Aug. 2004).
In 10 December 2007 correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, an official at the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which took over the camp's management in January 2005 (NRC n.d.), stated that her organization was "not aware of any camp in Mwaro besides Gihinga" (NRC 10 Dec. 2007).
While the UNHCR notes that 1,799 "Congolese refugees" were relocated to Gihinga in June 2004, later to be joined by survivers of the Gatumba massacre described below (UN 2004, 135), Gihinga camp was made official on 23 September 2004 (ibid. 27-30 June 2005, 10). The UNHCR describes Gihinga camp as being composed of 8 blocks of 288 houses (ibid.).
A group of Banyamulenge Tutsi, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reportedly lived in the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi prior to the 13 August 2004 Gatumba massacre, in which 152 residents were killed by a Hutu-led attack (COR Center Feb. 2007, 2). Following the massacre, many surviving Tutsi were relocated to camps inside Burundi, including Gihinga camp in Mwaro province (ibid., 6; BBC 1 Apr. 2005); the number of Gatumba survivers relocated to Gihinga camp is approximately 100 (UN 2004, 137). These Tutsis speak Kinyamulenge as their native language; all reportedly speak Swahili, while some have French-language skills (COR Center Feb. 2007, 6). The UNHCR reports that while the main ethnic group in Gihinga camp is Banyamulenge, there are also members of the Babembe and Bafulero ethnic groups living in the camp (UN 27-30 June 2005, 4).
According to the UNHCR, in 2005, 600 children in Gihinga attended school (UN 2005, 120). The Official from the NRC noted that children residing in Gihinga attended schools in the camp, and was not aware of any children being enrolled in any other school (NRC 10 Dec. 2007). The Official further stated that, according to the administrator of the Gihinga camp, the primary school Buziracanda is located in Kinganda commune, Muramvya province (ibid.).
In June 2007, the UNHCR noted that the Gihinga camp was home to 2,400 displaced persons, and was thought to "have reached capacity" (UN 14 June 2007).
Association Dufatane Munda and Child Hope
Information on Association Dufatane Munda and Child Hope in Burundi was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
In 10 December 2007 correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, the Official from the NRC stated that her organization was not aware of any association by the name of Dufatane Munda or Child Hope operating inside or outside the Gihinga camp in Burundi.
Dufatane Munda reportedly signifies "solidarity" in the Kirundi language of Burundi (TerraMadre 2006). The only mention of the "Association Dufatane Munda" found by the Research Directorate was on the website of CIVICUS, a Johannesburg-based non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1993 as an international alliance to promote democracy and citizen intervention (CIVICUS n.d.b), which indicated a representative's name and the base of operations for the Association Dufatane Munda as Burundi (ibid. n.d.a); no further information on the association could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Other organizations with the name "Dufatane Munda" operating in Burundi include a community of 72 coffee growers in Ngozi province (TerraMadre 2006) and a community of albinos in Kanyosha commune who cultivate beans and onions (Ligue ITEKA Nov. 2005). Further information on Dufatane Munda could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
In 30 November 2007 correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, the Director of ChildHope UK indicated that the organization has never worked in Burundi, although it has worked in neighbouring Tanzania. However, the Director noted that there exist other organizations called ChildHope, such as ChildHope US, but did not know whether or not these similarly named organizations operated in Burundi (ChildHope UK 30 Nov. 2007). Childhope USA is a New Jersey-based (Childhope USA n.d.b) NGO which was founded in 1986 to assist street children around the world, with offices in the United States, Great Britain, Brazil and the Philippines (ibid. n.d.a). Information indicating whether Childhope USA ever operated in Burundi could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. A Child's Hope Fund (ACHF), a California-based Christian charity organization, provides medical services and food for children in various countries (CSC n.d.) including Burundi, where it operates an orphanage and clinic (ACHF n.d.). Further information on ACHF or Childhope USA could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 1 April 2005. "Refugee Killed in Burundi Riot."
_____. 21 September 2004. "Burundi Survivors Refuse to Move."
Burundi. 30 November 2007. Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in Ottawa. Correspondence.
ChildHope UK [London]. 30 November 2007. Correspondence from the Director.
Childhope USA [Little Silver, NJ]. N.d.a. "About Childhope."
_____. N.d.b. "Contact Us."
A Child's Hope Fund (ACHF). N.d. "Photo Gallery."
Christian Service Charities (CSC) [Annandale, VA]. "A Child's Hope Fund."
CIVICUS [Johannesburg]. N.d.a. "Attendees."
_____. N.d.b. "About Us."
Cultural Orientation Resource (COR) Center [Washington, DC]. February 2007. "The Banyamulenge Tutsi: Survivors of the Gatumba Refugee Camp Massacre."
Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme (ITEKA) [Bujumbura]. November 2005. "Bulletin ITEKA No. 79 Novembre 2005."
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) [Oslo]. 10 December 2007. Correspondence from an official.
_____. N.d. "Burundi: Facts About NRC's Country Programme."
TerraMadre 2006. N.d. "Ngozi Province Coffee Growers."
United Nations (UN). 14 June 2007. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "Burundi: Land Tops List of Challenges for Returnees."
_____. 27-30 June 2005. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). WFP/UNHCR Report of the Joint Assessment Mission of the Congolese Refugees in Burundi 27-30 June 2005. (United Nations World Food Programme)
_____. 2005. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "Burundi." UNHCR Global Report 2005.
_____. 27 August 2004. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "Burundi: Information Programme for Reluctant Congolese."
_____. 2004. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "Burundi." UNHCR Global Report 2004.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Childhope USA, the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation (ICRC) in Bujumbura, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bujumbura, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) House Burundi were unable to provide information within the time constraints of this Response.
Internet sites, including: Factiva.
