Saber Azam was, Wednesday, visiting the new Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe District, where Burundian refugees are being settled.
“It’s not easy to be a small country, that is heavily populated, and go against all odds and receive as many brothers and sisters who come to seek protection in a brotherly country,” Azam told officials and refugees. He was accompanied by the Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana, who was flanked by local leaders in the area.
He noted that Rwanda’s security forces ‘played a big role’ in ensuring security at refugee camps and borders, in addition to protecting aid agencies’ staff.
“We are really very grateful to the government and people of Rwanda. The world should learn from Rwanda – how much this country is able and capable of protecting those who need protection.”
Located far from the Rwanda-Burundi border, Mahama camp, on a 50 hectare area, has space enough to accommodate 50,000 people.
By Wednesday morning, the camp had received over 7,300 out of 22,728 refugees who were in the country on that day.
Azam also thanked Kirehe District officials and population for their hospitality.
The local community helped quickly clear bushes in the vast area now being fitted with basic structures, including tents, medical facilities among other things.
Azam was impressed by the fact that the camp was made ready to receive refugees within days of its assessment.
As soon as the camp location was identified, locals and aid agencies – each with a specific undertaking – including the American Refugee Committee (ARC), the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), World Vision, Plan International (Plan), the Red Cross, UNICEF– stepped in.
“This is the fastest ever camp I have seen in my 20 years work experience with refugee camps.
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