24,000 Burundians seek refuge in Rwanda

May 27, 2015

Hundreds of Burundians have fled the country following unrest in March when court cleared a constitutional amendment allowing President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for another term


By Taddeo Bwambale


Mahama Refugee Camp in Rwanda is located in the country's eastern province, about 200km from Kigali city.

Set up barely a month ago, the camp is now home to about 24,000 refugees from Burundi, and half of them are children.

For the last three weeks, the camp has been receiving over 1,000 Burundians refugees daily, although the figure has since reduced to 150, camp officials say.
 

 true


Hundreds of Burundians have fled the country following unrest in March when court cleared a constitutional amendment allowing President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for another term.

The country’s Parliamentary elections are due to be held on June 5, with a presidential poll scheduled for June 26.

Street protests have left at least 30 dead in a violent crackdown by security forces, and the crisis deepened earlier this month when a top general staged a failed coup attempt.
 

 


Burundian refugees entering Rwanda are taken to Nyanza and Bugesera temporary transit centres, told New Vision on Wednesday.

They are then transported to Mahama camp set in Kirehe district, established on a 50 hectare piece of land, just next to River Kagera that separates Rwanda from Tanzania.

Musoni, who also works for the ministry of disaster management, says cases of Malaria and bacterial infections are increasing among refugees.

"We need more support. We have a low supply of clean water and medical supplies may not be enough due to the rising number of refugees," Musoni says.
 

 


The camp is divided into three sectors and may soon exceed its capacity to accommodate a maximum of 30,000 refugees.

According to Musoni, majority of the refugees are from Kirundo district in northern Burundi and have reported being victims of harassment by security forces.

The Rwandan government and partners offer food, water and health services to the refugees but with visible strain as the numbers continue to surge.

"The conditions in here (camp) are tough here," a youth activist, who fled an attack in Kirundo district in Burundi, said on condition of anonymity.

"I am happy to be alive. I escaped with injuries," he says while showing off a scar from what he says was a stab wound inflicted on him by Burundian government forces.

Regional leaders are involved in talks with the Burundian government and warring parties to end the crisis that has sucked the region into it.

A cholera outbreak has so far claimed 31 lives in Tanzania which is holding over 100,000 refugees. 

Uganda is taking care of at least 6,000 Burundian refugees and the number is expected to rise to 15,000 in the coming weeks.

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});