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Burundian refugees now plead for jobs

Saturday May 30 2015
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Burundian children living in Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe district, Rwanda, near the Tanzanian border, play overlooking their temporary home. Beyond those Rwandan hills over there, they seem to say, lies their troubled country. PHOTO | DANIEL S NTWARI

Before the East African Community Heads of State come up with a lasting solution to political crisis in Burundi, Burundian refugees in Rwanda are now demanding that the Community finds them alternative survival schemes.

The refugees complained that life in camps is harsh and want the EAC partner states to allow them venture into income generating activities within the Community.

Theogene Ndagijimana, 23, sells basic goods under a tree at the entrance of Mahama camp in Kirehe district even though he denied a chance to do so while at Gashora transit camp in Bugesera district.

The former motorcycle taxi transporter and businessman who fled Bujumbura to Rwanda with Rwf21,368 said life at the camp is harsh and thus the need to inject the money in a small business to make ends meet.

“Life has changed as a refugee here and I am now forced to be creative instead of depending on the camp supplies, which are not enough for us all,” Mr Ndagijimana said.

Though his income of Rwf15,000 per day is not enough compared with his previous daily income of Rwf21,368 in Bujumbura, Mr Ndagijimana said he is able to make a difference in his life unlike other refugees at the camp.

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READ: The living conditions of Burundi refugees in Rwanda and Tanzania

Few metres away from Ndagijimana’s kiosk, sits Jeanine Uwimana who also learnt from his neighbour. She said her husband was the initiator of the kiosk business after it was clear that survival with their two children won’t be easy.

“We have just started business today. We hope that it can pick up so that we can afford better food and other needs,” Mrs Uwimana said.

While other refugees have emulated Mr Ndagijimana survival tactics in the camp, others who don’t have capital but have skills have called for support to start income generating projects.

Unlike in the initial days of the outbreak of violence in Burundi in April, the numbers of fleeing refugees have increased from just peasants to middle class.

The Burundian refugees now want the EAC partner states to allow them seek job opportunities instead of being confined in the camps.

In addition, they also want the bloc to establish schools within the camps to enable their children continue with education.

Marie Jeanne Nshimirimana, a widow and a mother of three said she is a professional nurse and a tailor and wants the Rwandan government to offer her job opportunity.

“We are hardworking people and even when the Rwandan government has provided us a safe haven here; we think we can make our life as refugees better than sitting here all day waiting for free supplies, which are also not enough for families.” Mrs Nshimirimana said.

Frederic Ntawukuriryayo, Communication officer at the Ministry of Disaster Management and refugee affairs said the issues being raised will be handled in collaboration with key partners supporting the refugee programme in Rwanda.

“It is possible that we shall be able to resolve these problems at once. We were not prepared for the refugees, but if we have managed to build a good camp and provide these facilities in the initial phase and not even one refugees has died; that means we can make it in the sustainability phase,” Mr Ntawukuriryayo said.