Short Term Impact
“Children were no longer being helped by other refugees because at this point they all had their own problem.” (BMJ: British Medical Journal).
After the Rwandan Genocide, illness spread through many refugee camps, sickening many Rwandans at a time when they were already at their worst. Doctors Without Borders was brought in to treat the injured and ill. Some illnesses that doctors were battling to contain were cholera and dysentery. These illnesses were caused by lack of restrooms and clean water sources.
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Because the media and international political entities failed to attend to and proactively intervene in Rwanda, the situation developed into a genocide, just as the Holocaust did 50 years prior.
The Gacaca Courts identified the truth, sped up trials, provided unity and a reconciliation process to demonstrate that Rwanda could solve their own problems. This system prosecuted nearly 100,000 people by 1998 and continued to serve an important purpose until it closed on June 8, 2012, after facing criticism.
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Another significant issue was what to do with all the Rwandan orphans. Relaxing existing international adoption laws, allowed Rwandan orphans to be welcomed into new homes without all the red tape. Orphans were welcomed by many families, including the families of other Rwandans and Africans. These children had lost everything; their families, homes, and hope. However, the families who were willing to open their homes to orphans provided hope for the future and a restored faith in humanity.
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Long Term Impact
More than twenty years have passed since the genocide, and Rwandans have shown signs of healing through their actions and their interest in international affairs. The women have begun selling their goods to make a profit. They have produced baskets, handbags, and jewelry in an artisan network. This network helps survivors enter back into society by making incomes that drive Rwanda forward as a country. As a result, Rwanda has entered the 21st century and is on the road to recovery.
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“[They have} made a remarkable economic turnaround over the course of the past two decades. The country now boasts intra-regional trade and service delivery, urban design innovation, and efficient transport links. It has positioned itself as an attractive destination for foreign investment and business ventures. Remarkably, there is free wifi on city buses in Kigali, the country’s capital!” (22 Years After the Rwandan Genocide).
The Rwanda genocide affected the world because we will never be able to forget what happened or change the past. All we can do now is learn from the mistakes that were made and vow to do better. The bigger lesson is the one put forth by Paul Rusesabagina. Individuals have great power to make a difference by standing up to those doing wrong and by helping others in need.
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