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UNHCR launches census for Burundian refugees in Rwanda

Xinhua, June 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, launched a census for Burundian refugees who are not living in established camps in southeastern Rwanda in order to better plan humanitarian operations.

Phillip Kibui, associate registration officer for UNHCR in Rwanda, said in a statement that the census is targeting Burundian refugees in urban centers register in a move to establish an accurate database that will help better plan of humanitarian operations and in the relief distribution.

It is said that about 800 refugees had been registered so far since last Tuesday and the agency said it would also collect data on their personal identification before being given numbers essential for the settlements in urban areas instead of living in established camps.

At the end of the census, it said, the Rwandan government would issue all refugees with an attestation and identification card.

According the latest UNHCR statistics, there are almost 32,418 Burundian refugees in camps in South Eastern Rwanda whom the majority are women and children.

The UNHCR census comes at a time when Burundian authorities have closed all entry points into Rwanda to prevent the wave of Burundians who continue to flee their villages for fear of being killed by pro-government militia.

The parliamentary elections in Burundi have been postponed twice since 28 May to enable the army and the police to have enough time to restore calm in the country.

Burundi has seen clashes between the police and demonstrators who have been protesting against the third term bid of Rwandan President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The current situation in Burundi is a matter of major concern to the rest of the East African region, and Rwandan authorities fear the possibility that Rwandan Hutu rebels operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo could use the violence to destabilize Rwanda. Endi