A huge sense of relief has greeted completion of works to refill a dangerous ravine in the environs of Gihembe Refugee Camp in Kageyo Sector, Gicumbi District.

The camp is home to thousands of Congolese refugees and the ravine posed a threat to both the refugees and other residents in the area.

Residents said several people had lost their lives in landslides associated with the ravine.

The works to fix the ravine, which started in September last year and cost an estimated Rwf650 million, were undertaken by the engineering regime of the Rwanda Defence Forces.

Job Nganizi, who lives in Karihira village which has been most affected, said that this means a lot to them because they have been living in constant fear for their children, especially during the rainy season.

"We couldn’t leave our homes during the rainy season; we had to stay at home to ensure our children remain indoors so that they do not approach the ravine. But, with the ravine now covered, we can go to work in the morning and return in the evening because we know our children are safe,” he said.

He added that besides their children’s safety, the ravine had paralysed transport in the area.

"Before the camp was set up in 1997, we had a well functioning road to Ruyaga and Kageyo trading centres but the road was completely cut off by landslides. I hope the road will also be repaired,” he said.

The ravine was covered as a result of a two-year project dubbed ‘Environmental protection in and around refugee camps.’

Veneranda Ingabire, the coordinator of the project, said more activities are to be undertaken to protect environment in the area.

She said; "We have so far completed works on the ravine but there is still a lot to be done to safeguard environment in and around this camp. Other activities will involve planting trees not only in this camp but also in other camps in the country.”

The project, worth Rwf1.5 billion is funded by the National Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA) which availed 70 per cent of the budget while the remaining 30 per cent came from the Ministry of Disaster Management and refugee Affairs.

The camps to benefit from the project include Gihembe (Gicumbi District), Kiziba in Karongi District, Nyabiheke in Gatsibo District and Mugombwa in Gisagara District.

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