Districts in Eastern Province and development partners have donated aid relief worth Rwf60 million to the people who were recently evicted from Tanzania. 

A team of seven district leaders and development partners, led by the Governor of Eastern Province, Odette Uwamariya, donated the items to Kinazi Camp where thousands of the evictees are sheltered.

The number of the evictees stands at more than 7,000, of which 75 per cent are women and children. 

However, more than half of the evictees have joined their relatives in the country, leaving about 3,500 in the camp.

Uwamariya said the aid would expedite the rehabilitation of the evicted persons in all aspects of social welfare.

She said there was need to help those evicted by creating a resettlement programme that will include providing food relief, medicine, education, among others.

"The people in the districts that make up our province have given a comprehensive aid package worth Rwf60 million. We shall continue to mobilise aid to keep the evictees going until they are fully settled,” she said.

The donation included food, clothes, beddings, utensils and their basic home necessities.

Call for help

Protais Murayire, the mayor of Kirehe, a district hosting the evictees, said they will not tire in their effort to assist them.

"We have a moral obligation to assist the evictees. These are people with no property. Their homes and property were shattered; we can’t afford to see them starve. I urge all Rwandans to support the evictees,” he said.

The evictees sang and danced with the local leaders, expressing gratitude for the support.

On behalf of the evictees, Alex Muhumuza, 47, said they were overwhelmed by support from government and the people.

"Much as most of us live in despair after losing all our cows to Tanzanians, we think we have a future. Sometimes you own thousands of head of cattle and at times, like now, you are at zero,” he said.