With a conflict that is showing no signs of abating, Burundians are crossing into Rwanda for what looks like will be a permanent stay. At least 500 refugees are entering every day.
Arrivals data updated by the UN shows that Burundian refugees on Rwandan soil have increased to 94,581 people today, from 84,597 on March 30.
According to latest update from Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (Midimar), Burundian refugees outnumber the figure of other refugees from neighboring countries.
Refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are numbered to 74,267 on top of another small number of refugees from Great Lakes region and beyond.
Increasing number of refugees would in near future become a burden for Rwanda.
Speaking to KT Press last week, Seraphine Mukantabana, Minister of Midimar said, “We are still in negotiations with other countries requesting them to consider taking a number of Burundian refugees because we are falling short of land where to host them.”
Previously, Rwanda had taken a decision to smoothly relocate Burundian refugees to other countries following unfounded claim from Burundi government, that Rwanda was fueling crisis in Burundi.
“We have not yet got any country willing to host the refugees,” said Mukantabana.
Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency last week released a statement indicating that Mahama, the biggest Burundian refugee camp in Rwanda – 53,490 refugees is becoming a town with decent life.
About 414,000 Burundian refugees fled a crisis that followed President Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third term, exactly two years ago(April 25,2015).
Political crisis in the country is only worsening; food security has added to constant killings of not only innocent civilians, but also senior military officers and politicians.
SOURCE: KT Press
