Bujumbura - Congolese refugees fleeing eastern Democratic Republic of Congo will be hosted in a new refugee camp in Kavumu (Cankuzo province), inaugurated this Wednesday 15th of May 2013 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). With a total capacity of 13,000 refugees the new camp is expected to accommodate 5,000 of them by the end of 2013.
Over the past few months, many Congolese, threatened by armed groups or inter-ethnic conflicts, crossed Burundi borders hoping to find refuge and security. During the last quarter of 2012, UNHCR registered about 2,200 new Congolese asylum seekers. From January to March 2013, they were more than 1,500. With a total population of 26,000 refugees, the three refugee camps – Bwagiriza, Musasa and Gasorwe – had reached their maximum capacity.
For nearly four months, UNHCR and its partners have serviced the 81 hectares site granted by the Burundian authorities to meet the basic needs of refugees. In addition to shelters, the camp has in particular a school, a health center, as well as a 13km-long water gravity supply. The costs of the construction and the camp running for a year are estimated at 2,550,000 USD. "Building a camp means building an entire village," added Catherine Huck, UNHCR Representative in Burundi.
Before arriving to the new camp, refugees stay 2-3 days in one of the two transit centers opened early April in Cishemere (province of Cibitoke) and Kajaga (Marie of Bujumbura). They are then transferred to Kavumu camp where they are assisted by UNHCR and its partners. After receiving food, non-food items and medical assistance, refugees finally start building their shelters, with the assistance of technical partners.
UNHCR Burundi provides protection and assistance to 41,813 refugees, 6,130 asylum seekers, 35,712 returnees, 78,796 internal displaced persons and 1,302 persons at risk of statelessness (as of 31 March 2013). About 60% of refugees are living in camps, the other 16,000 are urban refugees, mostly based in Bujumbura.