The Federal Republic of Germany Wednesday handed over €500,000 to the World Food Programme (WFP) to increase resources to feed 54,000 refugees living in in three camps in Rwanda.The move followed a recent outcry from refugess, mainly from DR Congo, over the escalating food shortage in camps, especially Kiziba Refugee Camp, based in Karongi District.“The donation will enable WFP to maintain full food rations, including providing fortified food for malnourished children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people living with HIV/Aids,” said Abdoulaye Balde, WFP Country Director.A nutrition survey conducted in April 2011 by WFP and UNHCR shows that a third of the households are food insecure, meaning that they struggle to get enough food to carry on their daily activities.It’s said that in the refugee camps, more than 30 percent of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished, while thirteen percent of them are underweight.“The support has come at the right time,” said Balde.Elmar Timpe, the German Ambassador to Rwanda, reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities.The event took place at Gihembe refugee camp in Gicumbi District.However, WFP is still soliciting for more relief.This year , WFP Rwanda plans to provide food assistance to 424,000 beneficiaries, including 54,000 refugees, 20,000 Rwandan refugees returning home and 350,000 school children in 300 primary schools, the UN agency says. The Congolese resfuges have been in the country for nearly 17 years, having fled mainly from the eastern part of the country, from violence pereptrated by elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, among other militia.
