The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) has launched a new environment protection project to help address shortage of wood fuel in refugee camps.

The Rwf1.5 billion project, launched last week, is jointly funded by the National Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA) to a tune of Rwf1 billion, and MIDIMAR, Antoine Ruvebana, the permanent secretary in the ministry, said.

The project, to be implemented in two years, intends to put in place mechanisms to protect the environment in and around refugee camps.

"The project aims to distribute 14,000 improved cooking stoves to refugees. This will save energy where less wood will be used. For example, where we have been distributing 100 bundles of wood, we will instead be supplying 20 bundles once the project takes off,” he said.

Currently, Rwanda hosts more than 110,000 refugees in various camps, which has heightened the demand for firewood, a situation that led to deforestation in surrounding areas.

In Gihembe Refugee Camp, with surrounding woodlands being depleted, land was degraded due to floods that created a ravine that has so far claimed the lives of six people.

"We have a serious issue of firewood. For example, I have not been getting firewood for the last two months. Last week, I went to a nearby eucalyptus forest to collect firewood and dry leaves and the owner chased me thinking I had cut down his trees,” said Chantal Nyirabukara, a mother of five.

She added that they used buy a bag of charcoal for Rwf5,000 but the price has lately increased to Rwf8,000.

"Besides supplying improved cooking stoves, we are also going to plant trees to preserve the soil and prevent landslides. We have formed cooperatives made up of refugees and nearby residents to take care of the trees,” Ruvebana, the MIDIMAR permanent secretary, said.

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