EASTERN PROVINCE

BUGESERA — The State minister for local government, Christine Nyatanyi has asked Rwandan returnees to work hard and desist from expecting aid all the time.

Addressing the returnees from Tanzania, currently resettled in Nemba and Rutete camps, last week, the minister said the group should learn skills to earn a leaving.

"You have been here for a period of one year or more, you should not only depend on government and other donors’ assistance. Its time for you to start working for your own well-being," she said, responding to complaints from the group, about lack of food and accommodation.

The returnees had appealed to the Minister to replace their plastic tents commonly called sheeting, saying the materials have grown old and become susceptible to wind or heavy rainfall.

They further complained about lack of food, saying they have spent about three or so months without getting food donations. This was not the first time the group was complaining over food supplies and plastic sheeting, ever since their return. Their complaints including water shortage have previously been reported in different media outlets.

‘‘The government is now treating you the way it treats other citizens. You are no longer refugees; you are like any other citizens in the country. I urge you to start working and assist us to achieve our vision 2020," the Minister said.

Nyatanyi appealed to them to devise means for self providence as they still waited for food and other donations, by engaging in different activities like basket weaving, block making and cultivating both cash and food crops.

The district vice-mayor in charge of social affairs, Isabelle Mucyowera who had accompanied the Minister, raised concern over the increasing number of returnees’ children seeking education assistance.

"How can the number jump from 17 to 80 students?" "Maybe some of you have decided to bring children of your relatives to Bugesera to get scholarships," she wondered.

She said however, that the issue of their children delaying to report to school would be handled urgently. She said the district had so far awarded scholarships to 17 students in secondary school and that more scholarships would be awarded to others, with support of donors.

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