AID AGENCIES along the Rwandan border are gearing up for another mass exodus of up to 100,000 refugees from across the frontier in eastern Zaire.
Amid conflicting reports about the numbers of refugees still in Zaire and the direction in which they are moving, UN officials have instructed the agencies, including Trocaire and Concern, to prepare for a new influx of refugees.
Of the 500,000 who crossed the frontier at Gisenyi 10 days ago, more than 60 per cent have returned to their home communes, according to the UN High Commission for Refugees. About 95 per cent of those who returned have been able to go back to their original houses.
US military personnel say that 175,000 refugees are left in eastern Zaire compared to UNHCR's estimate of 700,000. The US estimate is based on satellite photographs of refugee movements, which were shown at a briefing here.
US sources claim the UN has overestimated the figures, though they admit that additional groups of refugees may have fled further north and/or west of Lake Kivu, beyond the area which was photographed. The Rwandan authorities claim all refugees have now returned.
The border crossing between Goma in Zaire and Gisenyi was "relatively quiet" yesterday, Mr Nick Rabin of Trocaire's office in Gisenyi said. "We've been told to prepare for another 100,000 on the way, but when they are to arrive is not clear.
About 6,000 Hutus crossed the border at Goma at the weekend. Most were from the former Katale camp, north of the town. Some of the men bore knife wounds sustained in an attack on the camp during fighting between Tutsi rebels and Zairean troops.
Both Trocaire and Concern have more than doubled their expatriate staff in the past few weeks. Goal is reopening its office in Kigali today, only two months after it pulled out of the country. Refugee Trust is also stepping up its operations.
In Geneva, Ireland was represented at a meeting of donor countries by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Joan Burton, who relayed the EU's pledge of £150 million.
In Stuttgart yesterday, military officials said they had mapped out ways to provide humanitarian relief to refugees in Zaire.
