Congolese refugees to be relocated

The government plans to transfer Congolese refugees from Nkamira Transit camp in Rubavu District, Western Province, which is congested, to a new location in Nyamagabe District in the Southern Province. The camp was initially supposed to accommodate 2600 refugees, but over the last few days, the influx of refugees from eastern DRC has seen the camp playing host to over 7400, at least by yesterday.“We identified a site in Kigeme, Nyamagabe where we shall relocate the refugees. We are going to discuss it with other authorities to ensure that the refugees are relocated because we want Nkamira to remain a transit,” Antoine Ruvebana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee affairs, told The New Times yesterday.Kigeme camp initially sheltered Burundian refugees who had fled their country due to insurgencies.Ruvebana disclosed that government has so far spent about Rwf85 million on the refugees but the amount could increase as more come in.The money was used to expand the camp to accommodate, transport and medical services for the refugees, according to Ruvebana.“The camp clinic has been equipped with more drugs provided by the Ministry of Health,” Ruvebana said.The Minister of disaster management and refuge affairs, Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi, said that with collaboration of other partners, there was no cause for alarm.“This is like a disaster…if anything happens abruptly, of course one gets overwhelmed at times, but we are monitoring the matter closely. If they continue fleeing and we cannot handle the capacity, then automatically other international communities will intervene,” he said.He reiterated that a team of experts will today visit the new site to assess and plan how new tents will be constructed to accommodate and relocate the Congolese from Nkamira.The UNHCR and other agencies like WFP are providing food, shelter and other related necessities.Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, clarified that all agencies at the border were very vigilant and screening everyone crossing La Corniche border post.“There is no insecurity at the border, our officials are thoroughly screening every refugee who enters to ensure that no materials like guns and other related weapons enter our country,” Ange Sebutege, communications officer at the directorate, said.The latest influx adds to the already existing 50,000 congolese refugees who are in three different camps and have been in Rwanda since the late 1990s.

National

Congolese refugees to be relocated