Congolese refugees need more financial support — UNHCR

The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has said there is a need for more support for Congolese refugees living in camps in Rwanda.

Monday, March 11, 2013

The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has said there is a need for more support for Congolese refugees living in camps in Rwanda. UNHCR Country Representative, Warsame Neimar, who was speaking at Nkamira Transit Centre, last week, said they needed more than $46m (about Rwf29b) to facilitate the refugees.The Kigeme camp in Southern Province, which was established in June 2012,   is home to more than 17,000 refugees, way above the camp’s capacity. Similar situation of congestion is being faced at the Nkamira Transit Centre in Western Province."These emergencies are putting on us enormous pressure and the biggest challenge is resources and staff,” she said in a visit that was also attended by the US ambassador to Rwanda.More than 29,724 refugees have been registered at the boarder since the clashes begun in DRC in  April last year.The US envoy pledged $3.6m (about Rwf2b) toward the refugees welfare. He commended government for hosting the refugees.Other refugee camps include Kiziba in  Western Province, and Nyabiheke and Gihembe in Eastern Province. The three camps are home to nearly 50,000 refugees.