MUHANGA—The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) yesterday re-united Amani Mukampfizi Uwamahoro, 20, with her family after departing 14 years ago.

The function of reuniting Mukampfizi with her family was held at Joint Aid Management (JAM)-a child resettlement and transition site in Shogwe sector.

The function was marked with overwhelming happiness as Mukampfizi touched her mother’s breasts.

Mukampfizi lost traces of her mother Jacqueline Uzamukunda during the genocide when she grandmother fled to Northern Kivu in DR Congo

Speaking to The New Times, Georgia Trismpioti, an ICRC official said: "Mukampfizi who had lost contact with her mother later separated with her grandmother in 1998.

"By then Mukampfizi was only 11 years old; she was repatriated on April 30, 2003,” said Trismpioti.

Trismpioti also said that efforts to trace Mukampfizi’s family were almost failing because lack of sufficient information directing to her family and her case was considered vulnerable. 

"She (Mukampfizi) was able to remember her mother names and relatives.

 After radio announcements, on July 26,” Trismpioti said.

While other children at the site also cried out to their parents to come up and reunite as soon as possible; Mukampfizi and her mother, had a memorable day- which they considered a blessing from God. 

The two raised arms and prayed, as they were accompanied to their home.

They said, "The long awaited day has come and we are grateful to the Government of Rwanda, the Red Cross, who have worked hard to see ourselves together again after many year in refugee camps,” Uzamukunda said. Ends