I am referring to the article that appeared in The New Times on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, on page 4 in the Upcountry section. With regard to the article titled “300 DRC refugees back in Rwanda,” I would like to point out the following misrepresented statements.
I am referring to the article that appeared in The New Times on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, on page 4 in the Upcountry section. With regard to the article titled "300 DRC refugees back in Rwanda,” I would like to point out the following misrepresented statements.
First and foremost, the journalist Stevenson Mugisha confuses refugees with Rwandan returnees. The Nyagatare Transit Centre near Cyangugu hosts both refugees who fled from the D.R. Congo and Rwandan returnees.
The latter are Rwandan citizens that lived in exile in the D.R. Congo and have now returned to their home country. Those returnees may pass a few days at the Transit Centre before they continue to the place from which they originally fled.
Rwandan returnees do certainly not live in refugee camps in Rwanda!
In fact, over 250 Rwandan returnees were received at Nyagatare Transit Centre in August 2007, and have been ‘assisted by UNHCR in reaching their home towns.
Secondly, the journalist claims to have obtained information from an "official from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)” even though no staff from UNHCR Rwanda spoke to Mugisha.
Mugisha, in response, replied that the "gentleman” he interviewed would not disclose his name. Would you call this professional journalism when information retrieved from an anonymous source is associated to UNHCR?
Thirdly, at the end of August, the Nyagatare Transit Centre hosted nearly 1,900 Congolese refugees, not Rwandan returnees.
The majority of these individuals are in the process of being transferred to Nyabiheke Refugee Camp in northern Rwanda, which is not situated in Matimba but in Gatsibo sector. Both refugees and returnees spend a limited amount of time at the transit centres.
However, whereas refugees are relocated to refugee camps, returnees go home to their native town in Rwanda. No transfers have been planned to Kiziba Camp near Kibuye.
As regards information concerning UNHCR and refugees, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.
Christina Alfirev
External Relations Officer, UNHCR Rwanda