MIDIMAR launches construction of a refugee camp in Gisagara

Thursday December 19, 2013: The Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Mukantabana Seraphine together with UNHCR representative in Rwanda, Neimah Warsame, and Gisagara District Mayor  Leandre Karekezi, inaugurated construction works for a new refugee camp in Mugombwa Sector in Gisagara District in the Southern Province.

A press release by MIDIMAR says the new camp will host about 10,000 Congolese refugees who have spent about a year in Nkamira Transit Center in Rubavu District in the Western Province.

At the inauguration of construction works, Minister Mukantabana Seraphine laid a foundation stone for the multifunctional building that will serve as a one stop center for the camp administration, immigration officials and the police.

Minister Mukantabana Serpahine expressed gratitude to Gisagara District authorities for the generosity to avail that land for the establishment of the new camp.

“MIDIMAR is very grateful for the generosity and kindness expressed by Gisagara District mayor. He didn’t hesitate to respond positively when he was contacted during the process of searching for a land to establish the new camp.” Declared Minister Mukantabana

Minister Mukantanaba Seraphine also thanked UNHCR representative in Rwanda for her commitment and continued support to the government of Rwanda in handling the emergency of Congolese refugees’ influx that started since April 2012.

The relocation of refugees from Nkamira to Mugombwa camp is expected beginning January 2014 in order to enable school-aged children to immediately catch up with the next academic year.

Mugombwa Refugee camp will be extended to a 47, 7 hectares land. Different partners have came on board to assist by establishing infrastructures to serve the yet to be settled refugees. Currently, 49 classrooms in course of construction by ADRA are at final stage. Water installation activities have also started. Terracing and drainage activities are also expected to start next week.

All infrastructures in course of establishment at Mugombwa camp like schools, water, health facilities have adopted a community integrated approach to serve both refugees and local residents.

The ongoing works at new camp site have impacted community development by employing thousands of local residents as manpower in some works like schools constructions, route tracing, ground preparation and terracing to start soon.

Mugombwa becomes the fifth camp for Congolese refugees in Rwanda added to Gihembe  in Gicumbi District in the Nothern Province, Nyabiheke in Gatsibo District in Eastern Province, Kiziba in Karongi District in the Western Province and Kigeme camp in Nyamagabe District in Southern Province.

The five camps host over 70, 000 Congolese refugees

The launch in pictures

UM– USEKE.RW