WESTERN PROVINCE

RUSIZI — At least 75 Rwandan refugees who had fled the country after the 1994 Genocide, were last Sunday March 9, repatriated from the DR Congo, by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees [UNHCR].

The group mostly children was repatriated via Rusizi 1 border post in Kamembe sector of Rusizi district, and arrived in the country at around 10:45 am. They included seven men, 26 women and 42 children.

According to security officials at the border, they [returnees] were living in various zones that included Karehe, Warungu, Bunyakiri, Masisi, Fizi, Mwanga and Uvura zones.

Upon arrival, they were transported to Nyagatare refugee transit camp in Gihundwe sector, Rusizi district, but would be transported to their original districts later. They reportedly hail from different districts, including Ruhengeri, Kibuye, Gikongoro, Byumba, Butare, Kibungo, Gisenyi, Gitarama and former Kigali Ngali, which was split into various districts, part of which are in Kigali, eastern and northern provinces.

Speaking to The New Times at the border, one Damien Munyeshyaka, 47, who was among the returnees said, "I am very happy to have returned to my country, I thank God for that because there is a lot of insecurity there in DR Congo; which is particularly being caused by Forces for Democratic Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebels."

Over 360 Rwandan refugees have been repatriated from DR Congo since January this year, using Rusizi 1 and 11 entry points, according to security authorities at the border.

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