MINEMA and UNHCR launch environmental rehabilitation drive in Gihembe
MINEMA and UNHCR launch environmental rehabilitation drive in Gihembe
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) today launched a series of activities meant to rehabilitate depleted environment in Gihembe which hosted Congolese refugees for 24 years.
Gihembe refugee camp was closed last October due to environmental degradation in the area.
Organized under theme “Plant a tree today; it will help us breathe tomorrow,” the launch of the environmental rehabilitation drive in Gihembe was marked by a large-scale tree planting activity. During the colorful event, Gicumbi residents, staff and officials from MINEMA, UNHCR and partners planted more than 4,000 agroforestry trees.
Speaking at the event, Ahmed Baba Fall, UNHCR Representative to Rwanda, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Rwanda and Gicumbi residents for hosting the refugees and their peaceful coexistence for more than 2 decades.
“We will never forget the genuine humanitarian commitment of Gihembe population and Gicumbi district towards the people we serve. Today, through this tree planting initiative, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and give back to them,” he said.
The UNHCR Representative to Rwanda noted that the environment rehabilitation in Gihembe is in line with the UN Refugee Agency’s commitment to maximize the environmental sustainability of its work and to reduce its greening gas emissions.
He also praised the generosity of UNHCR partners and supporters like VSF-Belgium, ICRAF, FAO, and Practical Action and all partners who contribute to the implementation of the refugee response in Rwanda, but also I&M Bank and the SP Group which are fully mobilized to support this tree planting initiative.
The Permanent Secretary in MINEMA, Mr. Olivier Kayumba, commended UNHCR and partners for their contribution in rehabilitating the environment in Gihembe.
He said: “We thank the management and staff of UNHCR, SP, I&M Bank and other partners working in refugee protection and assistance for participating in today’s tree planting activity to ensure environmental rehabilitation at the former Gihembe Refugee camp in Gicumbi District.”