UNHCR shocked over reports of refugee deaths in Rwanda

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Cécile Pouilly – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is urging authorities in Rwanda to ensure safety and protection for refugees after protests led to the tragic deaths of at least five refugees and the injury of many others – including the members of the police force – on Thursday. We are shocked and disturbed at loss of refugee lives.

Around 700 Congolese refugees from Kiziba refugee camp were demonstrating outside the UNHCR field office in Karongi, in western Rwanda. The protests, ongoing since February 20, were related to food ration cuts that have added to the refugees’ sense of despair and lack of long-term prospective. Police was reported to have used tear gas to disperse the protestors, after attempts to resolve the situation had failed. Clashes were reported before the police fired shots at angry protestors.

We regret that our continued appeals for maintaining calm and restraint were not considered. This tragedy should have been avoided and disproportionate use of force against desperate refugees is not acceptable. UNHCR calls on authorities to refrain from further use of force and to investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident.

UNHCR appeals to refugee leaders to show a sense of responsibility to avoid further confrontation and again urges them to respect laws and seek solutions to all their grievances through peaceful negotiations.

Underfunding has severely affected humanitarian operations in Rwanda, now with deadly consequences. UNHCR’s 2018 appeal for US$98.8 million to support refugees in Rwanda is only is 2 percent funded.

Kiziba refugee camp hosts over 17,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over 173,000 refugees from the DRC and Burundi live in six camps in Rwanda.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

• In Kigali, Daniela Ionita , ionita@unhcr.org , +250 78 831 0125
• In Geneva, Babar Baloch, baloch@unhcr.org, +41 79 513 95 49

Refugees Camp Out at UN Office in Rwanda, Demand Better Conditions

WASHINGTON / KARONGI, RWANDA — 

Three thousand to 4,000 Congolese refugees were camped out Wednesday in front of a U.N. office in western Rwanda, demanding better living conditions at their camp.

The refugees refused to go after marching out of the Kiziba camp on Tuesday and protesting in front of the office of UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, in the Karongi district.

The army used live ammunition to break up the protest. The protesters said soldiers shot at them and wounded at least two people.

Rwanda has launched an investigation into what sparked the protest.

In a statement, Jean Claude Rwahama, director of refugee affairs in the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, said "refugee representatives have been meeting camp management, local authorities, as well as U.N. partner agencies to discuss the cause of Tuesday's incident."

Rwandan officials blamed the refugees for provoking the violence.

"It is unfortunate that some refugees resorted to violence even as local authorities and security personnel were working to find a solution to their grievances," said Rwahama.

Earlier Wednesday, a UNHCR official told refugees there was nothing the agency could do for them unless they returned to the camp. He said the issue was now in the hands of the government.

Congolese refugees' protest in Rwanda turns violent

 The United Nations refugee agency says protests by Congolese refugees in Rwanda have turned violent with several people injured and that police have fired into the air to disperse them.

Tensions are high over cuts in food rations. U.N. official Daniela Ionita says refugees refuse to return to Kiziba camp in western Rwanda despite pleas from government officials.

The demonstrations demanding better living conditions or relocation began Tuesday.

Rwanda hosts over 17,000 refugees from Congo, most of them women and children.

The World Food Program cut rations by 25 percent in January because of low funding and further cuts are possible.

Jean Claude Rwahama, Rwanda's director of refugee affairs, confirms that several people have been injured in the unrest and says authorities and camp representatives are meeting to pursue solutions.

Impunzi z'abanyekongo mu Rwanda zanze kuva kw'izima

Impuzi z'abanyekongo mu Rwanda zagiye kwigaragambya kuri UNHCR polisi y'u Rwanda ibarasamo.
https://youtu.be/hbm4iT1Pu5c

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Five Ways To Help Refugees In Nashville

This past week, you probably heard about the executive order to suspend all refugee admissions to the United States for 120 days, block citizens of 7 Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and stop all refugee resettlement from Syria indefinitely. This affects many of our friends and neighbors right here in Nashville.

For these folks, there’s a whole lot of uncertainty right now. In times like these, as Mr. Rogers always said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” No matter which side of the fence you sit on, we believe that helping our neighbors is something we can all get behind.

So here are 5 ways you can help our immigrants and refugees in Nashville this week:

1. Help a new American with their citizenship classes. Refugees are given the opportunity to become citizens after 5 years in the US. Help them prepare for the language and civics test so they can become the newest American citizen with Legacy Mission Village.
2. Donate some dollars. ESL-to-Go is a mobile classroom program that makes English classes accessible to refugees by driving their 34-foot truck into refugee populated apartment complexes. In response to the recent executive orders, Tennessee Foreign Language Institute is establishing an emergency interpretation and translation services fund. Your donation allows Limited English Proficient Tennesseans who are directly affected by these orders to receive pertinent and credible information in their native language.
3. Become an English tutor. World Relief Nashville is seeking volunteers to tutor one-on-one with refugees or teach English classes. If you are interested in volunteering as a tutor, just shoot them an email.
4. Become a refugee youth mentor. Through Catholic Charities, a refugee youth mentor will act as a role model, advocate, and supporter of a refugee youth between 9 and 17 years old. More on that here.
5. Eat at Nashville’s immigrant-run eateries! This is something we can all be onboard with: Supporting our immigrant community one bite at a time. Here’s a handy list of places to start.

For a more extensive look at volunteer opportunities in Nashville, download these New American Volunteer Opportunities.

Trump yafungiye imiryango impunzi zo muri Syria

Perezida Donald Trump wa Leta zunze ubumwe za Amerika yafashe icyemezo kibuza impunzi zo mu Syria kwinjira muri Amerika kugeza igihe atavuze.

Ibi biri mu iteka yafashe rinakumira abandi bimukira bifuza kujya muri Amerika.

Trump yavuze ko iki cyemezo kigamije gutuma intagondwa zigendera ku matwara akaze y'idini ya Islamu zitabasha kwegera Amerika.

Iri teka kandi ryanahagaritse gahunda yo kwakira impunzi izo arizo zose muri Amerika mu gihe cy'amezi ane.

Inkambi y'impunzi zo muri Syria