Refugees from Musasa camp call on humanitarians to increase their assistance which they say is not sufficient. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees instead appeals to them to undertake income-generating activities to improve their living conditions.
Refugees in Musasa camp
Masawa Kanyurhi Consolatta, the representative of Musasa camp refugees, says a refugee obtains a quantity of 3kg of beans and 10 kg of corn flour every month. Refugees sell part of it to buy other items they need such as shoes and medicine. When UNHCR exchanges the aid in cash, it gives them the equivalent of 7 dollars.
Masawa demands that the assistance given to them be increased, arguing that the sum is very small. “How can a person live with $ 7 for a whole month?” She suggested that the amount be increased to $ 20.
Amani Amidou, a 33-year-old refugee, says the UNHCR has not given them the amount of BIF 4,000 to purchase vegetables last March. “Vegetables are essential for good health especially for children. I ask the UNHCR to continue giving us this aid,” says Amidou, a father of two.
Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, calls on refugees to be involved in income generating activities. “Refugees will not always depend on humanitarian aid. They have to think of other possible ways to improve their lives,” he says adding that this new approach is being encouraged around the world.
The UNHCR representative says the refugees’s empowerment does not pose an obstacle to the usual aid. He instead calls on supporters to increase their assistance to refugees.
He also calls for everyone’s responsibility to achieve refugees’ empowerment. “Achieving this goal is a process which involves local people, refugees and the host country”.
Located in the Northern Province of Ngozi, Musasa Refugee camp has been existing for 11 years and shelters 8 thousand refugees. The UNHCR representative visited it on April 11.
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