News and Events

“The UN Refugee Agency in Rwanda appealed to Ambassadors and Representatives of various countries and organisations around the world for more support to the refugee response in Rwanda during an unprecedented visit to Mahama refugee camp.”

Mahama refugee camp population reached 50,233 by 9/09/2016. This camp hosts Burundian refugees. It is located in the Eastern Province, the 6th refugee camp, the youngest and the biggest refugee camp in Rwanda, which despite its small size and densely populated territory, is hosting 164,561 refugees in total, who are primarily from Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo.

After fleeing the horrors of the 1994 genocide, increasing numbers are ready to return to Rwanda, although many still worry about how they will cope after decades away.

On 17 August 2016, media reports wrongly indicated that a vehicle operated by UNHCR had been involved in an accident and the Police had found cannabis in the vehicle. The vehicle in question is a property of UNHCR, on loan under a “Right of Use Agreement” to Africa Humanitarian Action, responsible for health services in Kigeme camp.

October 2016 will mark one year since MIDIMAR, UNHCR and Kepler, through generous support from the IKEA Foundation, launched Kepler’s first campus in Kiziba refugee camp, in Western Rwanda, which is the oldest of the country’s six camps.

UNHCR Representative commends the Government of Rwanda’s refugee response and willingness to include refugees in their national systems, reflecting this year’s global theme: “Refugees are people like you and me”.

On the invitation of the UN Refugee Agency [UNHCR] and the Government of Rwanda, Malala Yousafzai, Youngest Nobel Prize Laureate visits Mahama refugee camp.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) Honorary President and Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Youth Refugees and Sport Jacques Rogge has pledged increased support for youth and sport projects

UNIQLO announced a donation of several hundred thousand pieces of used UNIQLO clothing to serve all refugees hosted in Rwanda