Barry Streek At least 1,5-million African people fled their homes during the first eight months of this year – an average of 50 000 new refugees every week – because of war, violence and political repression, says the United States Committee for Refugees (USCR). At least 10 African countries suffered significant population flight between January and August this year and they join millions of other Africans who remain refugees or internally displaced from previous years – a cumulative total of about 14,2-million people.
The USCR’s estimate of newly uprooted Africans is based on extensive monitoring of public and private field reports by United Nations humanitarian agencies, private international relief organisations and other sources in Africa. The committee says the international community has responded poorly to Africa’s new emergencies by curtailing food deliveries this year and leaving major relief programmes drastically under-funded. The US Congress, for instance, is poised to pass an Appropriations Bill in the next few days that would cut assistance to African refugees to its lowest level in more than a decade. It is also considering a reduction in funding for humanitarian relief to internally displaced persons worldwide by as much as $60-million, a cut of more than 25%. In addition, an Appropriations Bill already passed by the House, and now being considered by a House-Senate conference committee, will eliminate US funding for all UN peacekeeping efforts in Africa. The USCR summary of uprooted people in Africa in the first eight months of this year (the figures indicate both conservative and higher estimates of displaced people):
Eritrea
Newly uprooted = 500 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 650 000) Cause = border war with Ethiopia. Total uprooted, including from previous years = one million. (Higher estimates = 1,25- million)
Congo-Kinshasa
Newly uprooted = 430 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 540 000) Cause = civil war; war with neighbouring countries.
Total uprooted, including from previous years = 1,4-million. (Higher estimates = 1,7- million)
Angola
Newly uprooted = 200 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 250 000) Cause = civil war; current violence in eight of country’s 15 provinces. Total uprooted, including from previous years = 1,8-million to 2,5-million.
Sierra Leone Newly uprooted = 160 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 270 000) Cause = renewed civil war. Total uprooted, including from previous years = 750 000. (Higher estimates = one million)
Sudan
Newly uprooted = 60 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 150 000) Cause = civil war; government policies. Total uprooted, including from previous years = 4,4-million.
Burundi
Newly uprooted = 60 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 100 000+) Cause = civil war. Total uprooted, including from previous years = one million.
Uganda
Newly uprooted = 50 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 200 000) Cause = armed insurgencies in north and southwest.
Total uprooted, including from previous years = 510 000. (Higher estimates = 840 000)
Nigeria
Newly uprooted = 50 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 80 000) Cause = religious and political violence. Total now uprooted, including from previous years = 50 000 to 100 000.
Liberia
Newly uprooted = 30 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 40 000) Cause = civil strife; alleged armed insurgency.
Total uprooted, including from previous years = 230 000. (Higher estimates = 270 000)
Somalia
Newly uprooted = 5 000 minimum. (Higher estimate = 25 000) Cause = civil strife Total uprooted, including from previous years = 780 000. (Higher estimates = 850 000)