On September 20, 2021, a group of 538 Congolese refugees who were living in Gihembe refugee camp located in Gicumbi District were relocated to Mahama refugee camp located in Kirehe District. The relocation is in line with protecting and improving living conditions of refugees as well as mitigating environmental degradation in and around refugee camps.

The Government of Rwanda in collaboration with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is relocating refugees from Gihembe to Mahama camp for their well-being and safety.

Sefuku Thomas, one of relocated refugees commended the decision and emphasized that they have been helped to escape danger to a safer place.

“Gihembe refugee camp where we lived for over 20 years became very dangerous due to big ravines and old infrastructure. Mahama is a very good and safe place compared to Gihembe. We are told services will be the same as the ones we used to receive in Gihembe.” Said Sefuku Thomas.

Many relocated refugees said they were living in dangerous area close to ravines that could put their lives at risk anytime.

The relocation aims at settling refugees in a better place given that Gihembe camp is located in a high-risk area and is affected by environmental hazards caused by erosion and ravaging ravines, with aging infrastructures.

Burundian refugees who live in Mahama camp welcomed their new refugee neighbors and pledged to live in harmony.
“We received other Congolese refugees before and they are good neighbors. We welcomed them when they arrived and started sharing what we have. We take time and talk, greet each other in the morning and guide them in camp where services are delivered from, we are one!” Said Murerwa Leoncie, one of Burundian refugees living in Mahama camp since 2015.

Prior to today’s relocation resumption, Gihembe camp was home to 10,017 individuals of 2,267 households of whom 2,392 refugees have already been transferred to Mahama.  The remaining families are set to be relocated by December 2021. 

The Hon. Ministers of Emergency Management and of Environment on 19th June and 6th July 2020 visited Gihembe and Kigeme camps respectively to assess the issues related to environment degradation in and around the camps. They recommended to conduct an assessment related issues and propose solutions.

A joint assessment of environmental degradation related issues in and around refugee camps was conducted by technical staff from MINEMA, Ministry of Environment, Rwanda Housing Authority, UNHCR and districts hosting refugees. The assessment found many households were living in high risk areas.  

The relocation applies to all refugees from Gihembe camp. However, whoever would like to live outside the camp will not be relocated to the Mahama camp and will have the choice to settle out of camp in any village or city of their choice in Rwanda and register as urban refugee.