News and Events

“The meeting today constitutes a crucial step in providing solutions to the many Rwandans who sought refuge between 1959 and 1998, and in bringing one of Africa’s most protracted refugee situations to a close”, Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Economic Inclusion of Refugees in Rwanda is a Joint Strategy between the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for furthering economic development in host communities through refugee self-reliance (2016-2020)

The UN Refugee Agency – UNHCR welcomes the significant new support committed by the Government of Rwanda to improve protection and solutions for refugees at the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees, convened by US President Barack Obama in New York.

“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.