Burundian refugees hail Rwanda for safety

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Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza

Burundian refugees who have fled to neighbouring Rwanda following the eruption of violence in their country have hailed the host country for providing a safe haven for them.

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza

Over 30,000 people, the majority being women and children, have fled already, since the announcement that Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza was bidding for a third term in office last month.
However violent protests erupted a week ago after the Burundi’s ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for Defense and Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party designated Nkurunziza its candidate for the presidential election to be held on June 26 which has left the country in political turmoil.
Nkurunziza, in power since 2005, is expected to run for a third term in office despite opponents’ claims that a new mandate would violate the Small Central African constitution.
Entering the refugee camp, in Mahama sector, Kirehe District where the Burindian refugees are settled upon their arrival, you see a mixture of emotions such as hopelessness, anger and relief.
Mahama camp located about 160 kilometers away from the Rwanda- Burundi border can accommodate up to 50,000 people, according to the Rwanda ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs.
When you walk around the camp, life is a desperate existence. You pass scores of small children, playing, singing and dancing, some play with diapers on the ground, dirt covering their faces.
Speaking to Xinhua, Chantal Nyirarukundo, a mother of two children and one of the refugees said that Rwanda is very supportive to them and they feel much safer being in Rwanda.
“We are relieved from the violence in our country but worried about our future because if Nkurunziza elected the president again, we will not have peace in our country since he will have violated the constitution,” she said.
Nyirarukundo thanked the government of Rwanda for warm reception and for providing basic necessities to them.
Rwanda has established two health posts in Nyanza and Bugesera districts, where the children get vaccinated, before refugees are transported Mahama camp .
According to the Rwanda ministry of health, about 2000 children have been administered oral polio vaccine, to protect them from the poliovirus.
Close to 3, 600 children aged between 9 months to 15 years were immunized with measles and rubella vaccine.
Jean de Dieu Buyoya, a 46 year old and father of six children said that life in the camp is terrible and nobody wants to live as a refugee but bad leadership in his home country has pushed him into refugee life.
“We are fearing to go back home, because the violence has escalated. We are happy with Rwanda for providing us with shelter, food and medical care,” he says.
Buyoya like other thousands of refugees have fled their homeland, fearing Imbonerakure (Kirundi for “those that see far”), a youth wing of Burundi’s CNDD-FDD political party for harassing them if they don’t support Nkurunziza’s third term bid.
The European Commission plans to release 1.5 million Euros to support Rwanda’s assistance and protection of Burundian refugees.
The money is part of the Euro 47 million of total humanitarian aid earmarked for the Great Lakes region for 2015.
Burundi’s constitutional court, on Tuesday, ruled that President Nkurunziza can run for a third term, an announcement that led to renewed protests in the capital, Bujumbura.
Rwandan minister of foreign affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo on Tuesday urged Burundi to return to peace and end the deadly violence that threatens the regional security.
“We take seriously the reports of links to FDLR militia, the hundreds refugees crossing into Rwanda daily and above all the imperative of protection of civilians. We appeal to leaders of Burundi to do everything in their power to bring the country back to a peaceful situation. We will continue to work with the region and the international community to support peace,” she noted. Enditem

Source: Xinhua

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