European Union funding has vital impact on refugees in Rwanda in 2023

The European Union (EU) through its Humanitarian Aid Operations helped to support refugees in Rwanda last year as part of its EUR 1.75 million funding to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Rwanda.

In particular, EU funding contributed to the protection of Burundian refugees living in Mahama refugee camp helping UNHCR prevent and respond to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), provide legal assistance, documentation, and child protection services. Funding also assisted asylum seekers fleeing DRC through the establishment of Nkamira Transit Centre and construction of communal hangars to accommodate them upon their arrival in Rwanda.

Through its partnership with Save the Children International, UNHCR was able to support survivors of GBV and refugee children living in Mahama refugee camp who had serious protection concerns, including experiencing child neglect, physical and emotional abuse, over the course of the year.

In addition, 960 new-born refugee children in the camp received a birth certificate through the funding from the EU in collaboration with local NGO, Prison Fellowship Rwanda, and the Rwandan Government authorities. 182 children born to asylum seekers in Nkamira Transit Centre also received birth certificates.

“The European Union is one of the largest supporters of refugees in Rwanda,” commented UNHCR Rwanda Representative, Ms. Aissatou Ndiaye. “Last year, their support was critical to help UNHCR protect refugees and respond to the new influx of asylum seekers from DRC. We look forward to our continued collaboration in 2024,” she added.

Rwanda is currently host to approximately 135,000 refugees and asylum seekers. In 2023, over 13,000 new asylum seekers fled from DRC to Rwanda.

Since 2019, over 30,000 refugees have returned home, and UNHCR supported 325 Burundians to repatriate in 2023. Support from the EU has been crucial to enable the return of Burundian refugees in safety and dignity. Funding to UNHCR in 2023, aided the smooth operation of refugee returns particularly specialized support to particularly vulnerable individuals including older persons, those with medical needs and unaccompanied children.

The funding from EU humanitarian aid to Rwanda was also part of a larger contribution of EUR 6 million to support the protection and assistance of Burundian refugees, returnees and asylum seekers in the East Africa and Great Lakes region in 2024. Alongside its donors, UNHCR remains committed to refugees and asylum seekers in host countries as well of those who have taken the voluntary decision to return home.