The representative of the UN’s refugee agency has commended the government and people of Rwanda for hosting and protecting thousands of Burundian refugees.

Saber Azam was, Wednesday, visiting the new Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe District, where Burundian refugees are being settled.

"It’s not easy to be a small country, that is heavily populated, and go against all odds and receive as many brothers and sisters who come to seek protection in a brotherly country,” Azam told officials and refugees. He was accompanied by the Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana, who was flanked by local leaders in the area.

He noted that Rwanda’s security forces ‘played a big role’ in ensuring security at refugee camps and borders, in addition to protecting aid agencies’ staff.

"We are really very grateful to the government and people of Rwanda. The world should learn from Rwanda – how much this country is able and capable of protecting those who need protection.”

Located far from the Rwanda-Burundi border, Mahama camp, on a 50 hectare area, has space enough to accommodate 50,000 people.

By Wednesday morning, the camp had received over 7,300 out of 22,728 refugees who were in the country on that day.

Azam also thanked Kirehe District officials and population for their hospitality.

The local community helped quickly clear bushes in the vast area now being fitted with basic structures, including tents, medical facilities among other things.

Azam was impressed by the fact that the camp was made ready to receive refugees within days of its assessment.

As soon as the camp location was identified, locals and aid agencies – each with a specific undertaking – including the American Refugee Committee (ARC), the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), World Vision, Plan International (Plan), the Red Cross, UNICEF– stepped in.

"This is the fastest ever camp I have seen in my 20 years work experience with refugee camps.

And this is because of the efficiency of the Government of Rwanda,” Azam said.

Due to the emergency situation, the camp received undocumented refugees as hundreds crossing from Burundi could not be readily registered before moving on to Kirehe, aid agency officials noted.

Meanwhile, Jacques Rumanyika, the ARC site manager, said they were working fast to establish more hangars and ensure everybody was protected from the sun and rain.

"We are receiving an average 100 of people at the health centre and we expect more. But by next week, we’ll be able to have our own standard health centre,” Rumanyika said.

In addition to nine nurses, the camp’s new health centre will have a resident doctor. World Vision – which is in charge of water – in the camp was looking to create washing points that can cater for more than 8,000 people.

A Rwf300 million budget had been drawn for a sustainable water access project involving a 15-kilometer water pipe to cut reliance on trucks.

A Plan International official explained that they were managing on the child protection front. By Wednesday, there were 85 unaccompanied minors.

Kirehe District vice-mayor (social affairs), Jacqueline Murekatete, said: "We need to especially care for the children, the elderly and the mothers who are vulnerable. These refugees are our people and we will ensure that they are safe.”

The government last week granted the fleeing Burundians refugee status.

Rwanda already hosts more than 73,000 Congolese refugees settled in five other camps.

Crisis ahead of presidential elections

The refugees are fleeing from political instability back home linked to forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.

The refugees claim Imbonerakure (Kirundi word literally meaning "those that see far”), a youth wing of Burundi’s ruling party, the National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for Defence and Democracy (CNDD-FDD), are harassing and attacking members of opposition political parties.

Protests continue

On Saturday, the CNDD-FDD held a congress in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, where President Pierre Nkurunziza was picked as party’s flag bearer in the presidential polls set for end June.

The opposition says the move is unconstitutional. Since Sunday, there were protests in the capital even as thousands of citizens continued to flee the country.

The protests continued yesterday stalling business in the capital. The national university in Bujumbura closed on Thursday and sent students home.

Aspiring presidential candidates Agathon Rwasa and Jean Minani announced they will boycott the June election unless President Nkurunziza drops his bid to stand for a third term.

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