The Minister of MIDIMAR, Hon. De Bonheur Jeanne d’Arc together with the UNHCR Representative to Rwanda, Mr. Ahmed Baba Fall and other implementing partners visited Kiziba Congolese refugees’ camp on 29th September, 2017 to assess the living conditions of refugees in Kizaba camp.
Visiting Kiziba Refugee camp, oldest camp in Rwanda and a home to 17,166 Congolese, Hon. De Bonheur Jeanne d’Arc stopped at different facilities available in the camp. She visited the water supplying facilities, health posts and classrooms used by students of different levels among others.
After touring the camp, she held discussions with refugees and their representatives. The President of Congolese refugees committee in Kiziba Camp, Mr Bimenyimana Patrick reiterated some challenges faced by refugees in the camp.
“Our families have extended, we need more houses. In our camp, because of a higher birth rate, the number of people has increased and we have a shortage of water. Further, we would like to have electricity and safe roads leading people to our camp for a proper improvement of our lives”, said Mr. Bimenyimana standing in the midst of many Congolese refugees mostly children.
In her discussion with refugees, the Hon. Minister, De Bonheur Jeanne d’Arc promised the refugees to enhance advocacy to seek durable solutions to a number of enumerated challenges.
“We are enhancing advocacy to get means worth to solve challenges faced by refugees in Rwanda. We are partnering with different partners who may be having refugees’ management in their mandate to look for durable solutions,” the Hon. Minister said during her visit in the camp.
The UNHCR Representative to Rwanda, Mr. Ahmed Baba Fall, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Rwanda for the protection granted to the refugees.
He further went on to assure the full support to the refugees living in Rwanda in order to solve enumerated challenges through their representatives.
“We will continue to engage the Government of Rwanda and other partners to try to solve enumerated challenges,” Promised the UNHCR Representative to Rwanda, Mr. Ahmed Baba Fall.
Kiziba Refugees camp started to host fleeing Congolese in 1996 because of reigning insecurity in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, they have been receiving support from the Government of Rwanda and partners with refugees ’management in their mandate.