Burundian, Rwandan Refugees Repatriated From DR Congo In First Half Of 2022 – UNHCR
There are about 80,000 refugees in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the majority of them are Burundians.
The National Commission for Refugees and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) says that at least 1,200 Burundian and Rwandan refugees were repatriated from the Democratic Republic of Congo between January and June 2022.
Jerry Mawazi, chief of the National Commission for Refugees, disclosed this during a press dinner in Bukavu during the International Refugees Day celebrated on Monday, June 20.
“In terms of numbers up till now, we are at 182 Rwandans repatriated, and we have 1000 Burundian refugees repatriated from South Kivu,” Mawazi said.
About 80,000 refugees are still present in DR Congo’s province of South Kivu.
“At the level of South Kivu, we have more or less 80,000 refugees, and Burundian refugees much more represent them,” he added.
We now estimate Burundians at more than 50,000 persons. The figure that we have of Rwandans is estimated at 30,000 refugees.”
The UNHCR has insisted on the security of refugees as conflicts continue in the country.
Charlemagne Abosse, the UNHCR chief in South Kivu, said the population, especially the youths, must understand what they have to do and what they do not have to do.
“They must at all times follow the advice of the government. Thus, the messages are clear, and it is the security of everybody that is at stake,” Abosse.
“The message of peace, peaceful cohabitation and the message of ensuring the security of everyone is essential.”
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