US donates $3.6m to help DRC refugees

The US government has donated $3.6m (about Rwf2.2b) toward improving the living conditions of Congolese refugees in Rwanda.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

The US government has donated $3.6m (about Rwf2.2b) toward improving the living conditions of Congolese refugees in Rwanda.The US Ambassador to Rwanda, Donald Koran, handed over the donation to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) after touring Nkamira transit centre in Rubavu district, yesterday.Koran said his Pentagon appreciates Rwanda’s commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in DR Congo."We recognise the tremendous support that Rwanda gives to UNHCR and the refugee populations it hosts. We appreciate its willingness to share the burden with the international community,” he said.The donation is to improve and expand facilities and services for refugees."The recent increase of refugees underscores the need to renew our support in a timely manner,” the envoy said.Since the outbreak of violence that followed a mutiny in April last year, some 29,000 Congolese, mostly women and children, have sought refuge in Rwanda, .Neimah Warsame, the UNHCR Country Representative, said her organisation has financial constraints.