Dorothy’s Story, Burundi
Photo by UNHCR/A. Nijimbere/2014.
For many years, Dorothy Kyubwa Runyabagu, 71 years old, has been waiting to see her son again. Dorothy fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2004 after one of her son was murdered and her other son fled to Malawi. The one that fled to Malawi will eventually resettle in Sweden 8 years ago, while she fled with her grandchildren in Burundi, the children of her eldest son deceased.
Kevin, 13 years old and Jeanne, 12 years old have never known their uncle. They were too young when he fled to remember him. With their reinstallation application file nearing to completion, they will soon join their uncle in Sweden.
“Sometimes I cry, lying on the bed, and I ask myself too many questions,” says Kevin; he misses his unknown father and uncle. “Only God knows what I will do when I see him,” says Dorothy. “I told them that when they see their uncle, they will be comforted for not knowing their father and mother,” says Dorothy.
Text by A.Nijimbere/2014.
