Under the Tripartite Agreement on Rwandan refugees living in the DRC, UNHCR ensured that voluntary repatriation of Rwandan refugees took place in safety and dignity. UNHCR follows all standard operational procedures, ensuring that minimum required standards are met. UNHCR Regional Representation has repatriated 18,075 Rwandan refugees through 95 assisted convoys (59 from North Kivu and 36 from South Kivu). A total of 11, 478 Rwandan refugees were repatriated from North Kivu and 6, 597 refugees were repatriated from South Kivu. Rwanda offered a return voluntary repatriation package to a number of candidates with the result that voluntary numbers gradually increased, particularly from North and South Kivus. The overall initial planned target of 5,000 repatriated by end 2017 was reviewed and increased (10,000 people). Also in South Kivu, a significant increase in the number of voluntary repatriation was seen due to the dissemination of information concerning the invocation of the cessation clause, as well as the broadcasting of information about voluntary repatriation through eight radios stations. Further, sensitization sessions with candidates of the go-and-see visit with refugees who returned and informed their compatriots of the positive reception and important structural changes in Rwanda took place.
In Kinshasa, as part of the repatriation of Rwandan refugees, one Go and See visit of Rwandan urban refugees from Kinshasa was organized in Rwanda. A sensitization campaign for voluntary repatriation was organized for 245 Rwandan refugees. A cross-border meeting between UNHCR in the DRC and CAR was organized to discuss durable solutions for Central African refugees. Three refugees including two Congolese from Brazzaville and one Central African were repatriated to their country of origin.
In North Kivu, 12,184 Rwandan refugees, candidates for voluntary repatriation were medically screened. Children below the age of 5 (2,897) and pregnant women (299) were vaccinated and 781 people were transferred for hospital care. 359 sensitization campaigns on HIV/AIDS (reaching up to 3,688 people) and hygiene (reaching up to 12,184 people) were organized in the TC.
By the end of the year 12,184/ kits 10,000 people. By the end of the year, a total of 12,184 out of the 10,000 planned Rwandans for voluntary repatriation were provided with safe and dignified returnee transport (logistical arrangements made for the convoys and transport of returnees and their belongings (to be removed).
Gabon has also successfully voluntarily repatriated 25 refugees, 23 Chadians, one Tanzanian, and one Central African in security and dignity.