In April 1994, a sudden escalation in ethnic violence in Rwanda led to the massacre of some 800,000 men, women and children over a period of 100 days. Millions of Rwandans fled their homes, many to crowded refugee camps in neighboring countries. In this video, Pierre Nzeyimana, the IRC's program coordinator for Rwanda, takes a look back at the genocide and discusses the ongoing recovery effort.
Two years after this video was produced — and twenty-two years after arriving in Rwanda — the International Rescue Committee closed our country program in 2016. We have witnessed the amazing transition of a country torn apart by genocide to a country ready to gain control of its future. While more remains to be done, the IRC has decided to step aside so that the Rwandan government, local officials and other actors can continue the country’s remarkable recovery and development.
