UNHCR and Rwanda discuss solutions for refugees during World Refugee Day 2016 commemoration
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”.
This year Rwanda joined the rest of the world to mark the World Refugee Day and stand with more than 162,000 refugees living in this country, in 6 camps and urban areas. Internationally commemorated on 20 June each year, it is a time to show support and solidarity for refugees—who are just average people like you and me living in extraordinary circumstances beyond their control.
With record-high numbers of refugees—including in Rwanda which is today hosting more refugees than ever before in its history—UNHCR and the Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), gave a higher profile to this year’s national event by organizing a high-level stakeholders’ panel discussion to deliberate on durable solutions for refugees in the country.
Participants had the opportunity to discuss on global and regional refugee challenges, measures to prevent root causes that force people to flee and conclude on actions related to durable solutions for refugees in Rwanda. Panellists were represented by the Government (Hon. Eda Mukabagwiza), a Rwandan scholar (Dr. Usta Kayitesi), an independent media expert (Dr. Christophe Kayumba), civil society (Bishop Ruchyahana) and UNHCR (Ms. Louise Aubin, Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection from headquarters). The audience discussed on Rwanda’s excellent home-grown solutions for assisting refugees, its efficient response to refugee challenges and on the great work that remains to be done, specifically on local integration of refugees in Rwanda.
High-level guests attending the national event organised in Kigali | Photo: Eugene Sibomana/UNHCR
Saber Azam, UNHCR Representative in Rwanda, praised the government of Rwanda for respecting their international obligations by keeping borders open to all Congolese and Burundian refugees, but focused on Rwanda’s impressive commitment of assisting refugees.
“The Government of Rwanda’s willingness to include refugees in their national education system so that they could receive the compulsory 12 years basic education is unique and remarkable. Such innovative approaches allowed us to found the first ever university in a refugee camp,” he said.
Last year alone, thanks to support from donors, UNHCR spent nearly USD 35 million that went directly to refugee protection and assistance in Rwanda. But with a population of over 82,000 Congolese refugees who have lived as refugees for many years and with no chance of going home, and with Burundian refugees continuing to arrive every day, it becomes critical to shift from humanitarian aid to self-reliance.
Saber Azam reminded that people who have been forced to flee to Rwanda shouldn’t be a burden. “We stand here today to commemorate the resources, skills and experiences that all refugees have and we also want to commemorate that Rwanda generously ensures that refugees have the right to work and contribute in peaceful co-existence with Rwandans,” he said.
UNHCR’s livelihoods strategy for Rwanda is soon being implemented and envisions that all refugees should be able to fulfill their productive potential as self-reliant members of Rwandan society who contribute to economic development of their host communities. UNHCR will partner with Rwanda-based social enterprises that can include refugees as part of their value chains and work with refugees as either consumers, suppliers or employees.
Rwanda’s Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi, and the guest of honour at Kigali’s World Refugee Day event, said that today should be an opportunity for world leaders to rethink the causes of refugee crises and devise appropriate measures to address them. The Prime Minister made a commitment on behalf of his government to work towards solving refugee problems.
“Rwanda will continue to provide any possible assistance to our African sister states in pursuit of peace and security, to ensure that voluntary repatriation of refugees is attained and revitalized everywhere in the world”.
Besides hosting refugees, Rwanda also receives thousands of returnees, who are coming home after years of living as refugees in other countries. During his remarks, Prime Minister Murekezi thanked UNHCR for their assistance in returning home more than 3.3 million Rwandan refugees since 1994, and encouraged all Rwandans still in exile to return to home.
Rwanda hosts 162,000 refugees. The majority are from Burundi (79,000) and DR Congo (83,000) living in 6 refugee camps and 4 transit centres.
A refugees addresses the audience during the panel discussion in Kigali | Photo: Eugene Sibomana/UNHCR
Congolese refugee women performing traditional dance in Kigali | Photo: Eugene Sibomana/ UNHCR
