Refugees Daily - Internal Global Press Review

Sep 28, 2016 (Rwanda Focus/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) – Several ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions in Rwanda recently joined UNHCR representative, Saber Azam, and the Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) Seraphine Mukantabana, in a visit to Mugombwa Refugee Camp.

The camp is home to nearly 9,000 Congolese refugees.

Eight embassies were represented, including the Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Japan, Belgium, Netherlands, and Egypt, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, and representatives of the embassies of Korea and Germany.

During last week's Refugee Summit convened by President Obama, Rwanda was notable for its commitment to socio-economic inclusion of refugees. Among the pledges to refugees in Rwanda, the Government announced that it will fully integrate all refugees into the national education system, from pre-primary through secondary, and will promote self-reliance of refugees through a MIDIMAR-UNHCR Strategy on Economic Inclusion of Refugees.

The joint strategy proposes concrete ways in which the positive economic contributions of refugees can be enhanced to the benefit of local economic development in refugee-hosting areas and will be launched next week during a high-level event in Kigali.

Recognizing the Government's announcement at the summit, Saber Azam congratulated Rwanda on its participation and innovative approach.

"The participation and commitments of the Government of Rwanda at the Obama summit reflect a progressive approach to the situation of refugees which sets a new standard not only in Africa but globally. This commitment aligns with UNHCR's strategy to help refugees in a protracted situation become less dependent on humanitarian aid and integrated into national development plans supported by UN development agencies," he said.

UNHCR is constructing semi-permanent shelters for refugee families in Mugombwa. Conscious of the importance of environmental protection in refugee camps, the delegation also participated in a tree planting.

In partnership with MIDIMAR, UNHCR leads the interagency refugee response in Rwanda and ensures protection and assistance for over 165,000 refugees living in six refugee camps, five reception/transit centers, and also those living in urban areas.

UNHCR will, this year, begin transitioning from provision of non-food items to cash-based interventions, which give refugees more independence and dignity and foster self-reliance as well as boosting the local economy.