Rwanda - Guy Vassall-Adams

The Insight series presents evidence to support the advocacy work of Oxfam (UK/I) on behalf of poor communities work which is central to the agency's relief and development programme in over 70 countries. This book investigates the background to the genocide and refugee crisis which devastated Rwanda in 1994. It traces the historical background of Rwanda since pre-colonial times and places it in the context of neighbouring states such as Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda and Zaire. The civil war, human rights abuses, refugee crisis and the UN response are examined. There are crucial lessons to be learned from the catastrophe. For Rwanda and the whole region, the priorities now are to tackle poverty and promote peace. For the international community, which intervened too late to prevent the tragedy, the challenge is to ensure that it is never repeated. This book argues for radical reform and proper funding of the UN's peacekeeping and emergency capacities, and presents specific recommendations for action.