Elderly Genocide survivors primed for new lease of life

For the past 20 years, Caritas Nyiragakara has almost entirely known loneliness, having lost her family of nine children during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. She had lost her husband to natural causes before the Genocide.Loneliness was bad enough but now that she is 83, she is not getting any stronger, and each day she finds it more difficult to do any household chore, life has only become more difficult, especially now that some of her grandchildren are at school while another has moved out.“I wish I was at least left with any daughter or son-in-law, but none survived, no cousin, nobody,” says Nyiragakara, a resident of Karama Cell in Busanza, Kicukiro District.She is visually impaired and for some strange reason, she does not benefit from the survivors’ fund in which government sinks five percent of the national cake.In 2000, Nyiragakara relocated from Huye District to Kigali where she joined her grandchildren in Busanza in a small house left by one of her sons.Now, two of the grandchildren are in a boarding school, while the third one in primary school has joined a classmate to get some living benefits.“We live with our grandmother during holidays, and try to do some odd jobs to earn a living. We either clean for neighbours or do laundry for some little money. But at times we have to sleep on empty stomachs,” said Charlotte Twahirwa, 22, the oldest grandchild, now at university.Nyiragakara is just one case of the aging Genocide survivors, now estimated to be more than 1,500 countrywide, who face predicaments.Most of them who were lucky enough to have houses built by government through the Fund for Support to Genocide Survivors (Farg), now live lonely with no one to run them an errand or do any chores.But their agony may be short-lived because government, through Farg and other stakeholders, have a plan to assist such survivors.Hope The government has been trying to help Genocide survivors in different categories. Among these, are survivors above 50 years who lost all children and spouse to the Genocide.In Kinyarwanda, this category of the vulnerable is called incike. Most of them they have been getting a monthly stipend of Rwf7,000, just like the other vulnerable citizens who benefit from the direct cash social protection programme under Vision 2020 Umurenge, commonly known as VUP.Farg has since realised that these people need more than just the monthly stipend.Theophile Ruberangeyo, the Farg executive secretary, said they are finalising a plan that will help pay closer attention to this category of people. He said their assessment established 1,561 survivors in this category across the country.At least 15 per cent of these do not have shelter yet, and 30 per cent do not get direct support, while all of them are sickly, he said.Ruberangeyo said they have finalised consultations with organisations that have experience in dealing with the elderly.These include Caritas Rwanda, Red Cross, religious cells, and the association of Genocide widows (Avega), among others.The final report, to be submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and other stakeholders this week, recommends getting the elderly decent housing and hiring social workers who would take care of them.“Those who are still strong will get a house and a social worker, while those that are ailing will be sheltered in groups of two or three per house near a health centre,” he said.Farg will also increase their monthly stipend to Rwf30,000 per head. Construction of their houses is included in the Rwf1.2 billion budget earmarked to sheltering Genocide survivors. --------------------------------------- How should we help elderly survivors?Celestin Niyibizi, architect. ‘The aging Genocide survivors need the community’s attention. They should be supported in basic needs and their neighbours should always reach out to them, these people, should not be looked at as a burden, they are actually an asset so communities should always make use of the knowledge they have.’Hassan Karuranga, commercial motorcycle rider. ‘Most of these people don’t have anyone to rely on. The country is their only provider and they look up it. They should put them up in a centre so they can be helped collectively, that will also help mitigate the issue of loneliness. Such support should also be extended to other vulnerable citizens who stay alone. We, as citizens, have a major role to play.’Edouard Ntakirutimana, a cleaner. ‘Anything that can put a smile on these people’s face is a good initiative. We all need to be near these people. The neediest amongst them should be helped to get shelter, and helped to get nutritious foods so that they can live longer. Malnutrition is the worst experience an elderly may face.’

National

Elderly Genocide survivors primed for new lease of life