The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) deputy high commissioner, Kelly Clements, has commended Rwanda for the hospitality accorded to Burundian refugees in the country.

She made the remarks on Tuesday during a one-day official visit to Mahama camp in Kirehe District to assess the condition of the refugees.

The UNHCR delegation was accompanied by the Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDMAR), Seraphine Mukantabana.

Kelly noted that Rwanda had responded to the refugee crisis with generosity.

"There is no doubt that Rwanda has been supporting the refugees in totality…UNHCR will also continue to give its maximum support,” she said.

Kelly also promised the refugees that they would continue to access basic needs.

"We are grateful to the Government of Rwanda and its people for the hospitality they continue to extend to Burundi refugees. We need to collectively build on these efforts and ensure that this can be sustained until these people return home,” she said.

According to MIDMAR, the number of Burundian refugees in Rwanda has surpassed the 50,000 mark, with an increase of 28 per cent in the month of August.

Although MIDMAR had projected to host a smaller number, Minister Mukanabana said the Government could not limit the number of incoming refugees.

"The Government expected to host at least 50,000 refugees…but the number is obviously beyond what we expected. But when there are changes, new measures have been taken. Rwanda has done and is still doing its best to accommodate whoever flees into the country. Securing Burundians is our responsibility,” she said. Burundian refugees in Rwanda are currently estimated at 69,000.

However, the refugees said although the UN relief agencies and the government of Rwanda’s intervention provided the basic needs, they still faced daily challenges.

"We thank UNHCR and other relief agencies that have helped to provide us with a safe and conducive place. Life is getting better for the refugees here at the camp, because all the basic needs are being provided to the people…but we still have a lot of challenges. We don’t have enough fire wood, we queue for water for several hours and the quantity of food is not sufficient,” said a refugee.

Since the onset of the crisis in Burundi, there has been an influx of thousands of Burundian refugees in neighboring countries of Rwanda, DR Congo, Uganda and Tanzania.

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