Congolese Refugee Emergency

Project Duration: September-November 2013

Donor: ADRA Canada

Area: Nkamira Transit Camp in Rubavu district, Western Province

Project Goal: To ensure that there is improved sanitation by providing every household in the refugee transit camp at Nkamira with adequate access to refuse disposal. To ensure that standard shelters are provided the refugees in the transit camp as they await their transfer to the gazzated camps

Project Summary: Since the 15th of November 2012, the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) prompted an incursion of thousands of refugees into Rwanda and Uganda, fleeing the intrinsic situation resulting in armed conflicts in the country. The majority of the refugees entering Rwanda were fleeing from Kibumba in Nyirangongo and from Gasheberi, Mahanga, Ngungu, Gashari, Sake in Masisi while a few of them fled from the Kanyaruchinya IDP camp (10km from Goma) areas after suffering various attacks from the different militias and armed groups involved in the conflicts in the South and North Kivu provinces of DRC. The main causes for flight are reported by the fleeing population to be targeted maltreatment by various fighting groups that include Nyatura, Raia, Mutomboki, FARDC, Mayi Mayi and the FDLR. The targeted population is reported to be those that are Kinyarwanda speakers, specific ethnicity groups, and individuals in mixed marriages. Since the beginning of the year 2013, 10994 refugees have been registered at the Nkamira Transit Camp (NTC) in Rubavu district located in about 17 kilometeres away from the Rwanda to DRC border.

Major Achievement: As set forth 43 shelter hangars were rehabilitated to provide enough space in accordance with Sphere standards whereby the refugees have a minimum floor area of 3.5m2 per person. ADRA reinforced the wooden structure and covering of the walls and columns and plastic sheeting provided by UNHCR and coordinated the shelter activities using local technicians and refugee labor. ADRA bought 40 garbage bins to be used for garbage collection, and hired a local company to do garbage and waste removal twice a week for a period of three month and deliver the garbage to the government.