The Government is set to start relocating Burundian refugees in transit camps to Mahama camp by the end of January. This was revealed by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs’ spokesperson, Frederick Ntawukuriryayo, while responding to questions concerning issues raised by refugees in Gashora Transit Center. The refugees were calling upon the government to relocate them to Mahama Camp which has most basic needs that include improved medical care and access to education. However, Ntawukuriryayo said they were already planning the relocation process. “Usually, refugees are not supposed to delay in transit centers but we delayed because we were still constructing more houses where they can stay. Gashora transit center has 600 refugees; Nyanza has 400 refugees while Rusizi has 200 refugees. They could all be relocated in one or two days,” he said. He added that by the end of this month, they will all be in Mahama to prepare children to begin school. They are constructing more houses which will be occupied by people who were staying in hangars. Those in tents will shift to the hangers and that will create space for more refugees in the tents. “On the medical front, we usually have health workers at transit centers but when someone has a serious medical case, they are taken to the nearest health center or the nearest hospital. We have agreements with health centers and hospitals close to the transit centers,” he added. Those relocated will join more than 50,000 refugees who are already at Mahama camp where 1,500 students are already in schools. As the crisis in Burundi continues, current trends show that between 50-100 refugees enter the country daily and the overall number of refugees stands at 73,000. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
