It is two years ago since some refugees accommodated in Rwanda started receiving cash donations instead of food. Changing the way of delivering support to some refugees came into force since food donations would rot or lose quality standard before reaching refugees.Else, the Ministry of Disaster and Refugee Affairs revealed that people were used to buy food donations aided to refugees for doing business. Hence the cash donation support was started as a way of avoiding such critical conditions of food at the delivery to refugees to allow them buy daily meals.
In some camps where the program of cash support is applied, every family member is supposed to receive Rwf 6300.
The Minister of Disaster and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), Seraphine Mukantabana revealed a plan of banning food donations in all camps of refugees accommodated in Rwanda to avoid wrong doers who would profit and pay a little cash to refugees for sale back at higher cost.
She unveiled this to the Senatorial commission of Rwandans unity, human rights and fighting against genocide when she explained matters that appeared in the 2014/2015 report of human rights.
“There are people frustrated over the program of cash donations in refugees’ camp. Some of them want the program of food donations so that their trucks may get employed for transportation. Others want to buy refugees’ food to do business. When a program of supporting refugees faces challenges, we request refugees to be patient to solve the matter as soon as possible,” said Minister Mukantabana.
The program of replacing food donations by cash was introduced in three refugees’ camps including Gihembe, Kigeme and Nyabiheke camp. However, MIDIMAR reveals a plan to extend the program to all refugees’ camps in Rwanda.
“We are doing all possibilities to provide cash donations in all refugee camps instead of food,” said Mukantabana.
She also unveiled a plan to remove the program of donating home furniture among refugees since some of refugees come in the country with their own materials .As Mukantabanma said other required home equipments will be bought on Rwandan market.
Even though there is no exact time of embracing cash donations among refugees, minister Mukantabana said that they are undergoing an assessment of available harvests and market prices in locations where refugee are located to launch the program in a short time.
Rwanda has accommodates various camps of 74,000 Congolese refugees including Kigeme, Gihembe, Nyabiheke, Kiziba and Nkamira additional to Mahama camp accommodating 48,000 Burundi refugees.
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