Rwanda--an experience. *Chronicles of a West African in Kigali*: Refugee Camp Visit

The Disease Prevention Control (DPC) unit of WHO works in collaboration with UNHCR and other UN agencies to address the refugee situation in Rwanda. A couple of weeks ago, I attended an emergency meeting with my DPC supervisor at the UNHCR office to discuss the budget for emergency funds that UN headquarters had agreed to provide to help the refugee situation in Rwanda. I had expressed interest in going to see at least one camp because I think I had to see the refugee situation to fully understand the magnitude of the problem.

We took a trip to Nkamira transit camp in the western province of Rwanda. The refugees in this camp are mainly from D.R Congo and have fled because of the unstable conditions mainly in the part of DRC closest to Rwanda. The camp is set up as a transit camp where initial waves of refugees are received and later on sent to the various established camps located around the country. However, Rwanda is a small country and the issue of land is a bit problematic so some of the refugees at this transit centre have been there longer than expected.

We entered the camp gates and immediately my heart sank just seeing all these innocent children who had been displaced with their families. We went into to see the resident physician to talk to him and learn about healthcare within the camp and the type of activities that other agencies conduct to keep the camp running.

There were bout 9000 refugees at this site with one resident physician and 5 trained nurses. They also had community health workers comprised of refugees who had been in nursing school or were midwives, etc who aided the nutritionist in distributing the food and followed up on those who were recovering from illness.

The agencies concerned each had activities planned. Save the Children was holding a meeting with some of the youth. The morning sessions for family planning and antenatal clinic, held by the nurses had already taken place. UNICEF also had activities but we were told more of the activities such as educational activities for the children took place at the established camps.

We decided to walk through the camp. The children were playing and going about their lives as normal. Some of the mothers were cooking and others were washing clothes. One young lady was kind enough to bring us into her tent to show us her living space, which wasn’t much.

I thought to myself, in a parallel world, I could have been the one in that situation. My emotions went from elation from seeing the President to just sorrow to witness first hand the effects of war on people, especially women and children.

The drive to Gisenyi (where we lodged) was a rather quiet one. I was angry and sad at the same time. Angry at the fact that in this day and age people still fight and the ones who suffer are the innocent. Sad because no one should live in such conditions—to be forced out of your birthplace to another in a bid to survive is inhumane.

Gisenyi borders DRC—the border is pretty much a fence. We were starring right into DRC and saw people going through border control to enter Rwanda.

Seeing the Lake Kivu made me smile (must be my love of water growing up by the coast). Carmen and I just took the time to absorb the scenery and the calmness of it all and reflect on the instability going on right across the fence.

We spent the night at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. The view in the morning was breathtaking!! I took this time to reflect on how God has been good to us on this trip. Two months ago, if I didn’t envision that I would come to Rwanda to meet the U.N Sec. Gen, the World Bank President and the President of Rwanda! But this has indeed been a true blessing in disguise. This holistic experience will forever be remembered and cherished.

On our way back to Kigali, we passed by the camp to see if we could catch any on going activity. A little party was taking place as the contract of Save the Children had ended. To bid goodbye, a celebration was organized. The children were getting ready to recite poems, sing and of course dance. Children always seem to bring out the best in every situation—in the midst of everything that they have been through; they were having a good time! That put a smile on my face J.