They say they sleep hungry as they have no combustibles to cook their food.
Refugees usually receive firewood monthly but without the supply, they are having to walk up to three hours in search for the firewood.
A refugee in Mahama who preferred anonymity told IGIHE yesterday that they have food but suffer hunger as they lack firewood.
Another one in Gihembe said the firewood crisis has led them into conflicts with the camp neighbouring communities.
“We go to collect firewood in the residents’ farms and they fight us when they catch us there.”
Jean Claude Rwahama, the official at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees (MIDIMAR), says the crisis was caused by the contracted supplier who withdrew from the contract.
He encouraged further patience among the refugees saying that they will receive the firewood by end of this month.
MIDIMAR reports the spending of over Rwf1 billion on firewood distributed in all six refugee camps in the country.
Mahama camp in Kirehe District is the largest in terms of population and firewood consumption. It accommodates 57,627 people while Gihembe has 13,304 Congolese refugees.
Kigeme camp in Nyamagabe District has 20,000 Congolese, Kiziba camp in Karongi District has 17,120 population, Nyabiheke in Gatsibo has14,554, and Mugombwa which accommodates 9,205 refugees.
There are also urban refugees including 11,460 in the City of Kigali and 773 individuals in Huye city.
UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports over 152,000 refugees in Rwanda. Among them, 52% are from Democratic Republic of Congo while 47% are Burundians.
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