In 1996, many thousands of these refugees began to return home.
Their return has placed an already damaged country under even greater stress.
Rwanda is still a very poor country. Farmland is infertile and in short supply and suffers from erratic rainfall. Ethnic tensions within Rwanda and with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo create uncertainty.
The country is working to rebuild its economy, with coffee and tea production being among its main sources of foreign exchange.
ActionAid in Rwanda
ActionAid's first work in Rwanda began in 1994, providing emergency relief to people displaced by war.
Since then we have been working with former refugees and survivors of the genocide on resettlement and rehabilitation projects.
We also continue our work maintaining and developing the country's basic services. Our work is largely carried out through local community groups, so that change can be appropriate and long-lasting.
Essential Stats
| Rwanda | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9.79 million (2009) | 21.5 million (2009) |
| Area | 26,338 km2 | 7,703,581 km2 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $6.36 billion (2009) | $970.6 billion (2009) |
| GDP per capita | $649 (2009) | $44,598 (2009) |
| Human Development Index | 0.452 (2006) | 0.965 (2006) |
| Life Expectancy (male/female) | 45/48 (2005-2010) | 79/84 (2005-2010) |
| Adult Literacy % | 64.9 (1995-2005) | 99 (1995-2005) |
SOURCES: IMF, UN Data, HDI, UN Statistics
