Burundi: 'Psychosocial Support Is the Most Challenging Work.' A Volunteer's Devotion to Helping Burundian Refugees

press release

Since April 2015, close to 270,000 people have fled pre-election violence in Burundi to neighbouring countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, while increasing numbers of people have been internally displaced. Most of those who have crossed into Rwanda are living at the permanent Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe district, where they receive shelter, food, and other basic necessities from UNHCR, the Rwandan government, the Rwandan Red Cross, and other partners. Currently, the camp is accommodating approximately 49,000 Burundian refugees, with approximately 45 new refugees continuing to arrive in this camp every day.

Kaliza Jonas, 46, is a volunteer at the Kirehe branch of the Rwandan Red Cross. Since July 2015, he has been engaged in supporting Burundian refugees in the Mahama camp. The volunteer team is providing water, sanitation and hygiene promotion services through mobile cinema, first aid and psychosocial support, non-food items such as blankets, clothing, mats and soap, and assistance to families to enable them to establish and cultivate household gardens.

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