Rwanda: Burundian refugees celebrate as running water reaches the camp

Thousands of Burundian refugees accommodated in Mahama camp in Kirehe District in the Eastern Province of Rwanda have reason to smile after getting enough water in the camp.

On Tuesday June 2, 2015, running water was inaugurated in Mahama refugee camp. This additional water reached the camp following one-week intensive works by the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) to extend the existing water system from 1.4 Km.

This initiative was funded by the UNDP.

As of June 2, 2015, Mahama refugee camp hosted 23,736 Burundian refugees. Water shortage had been the most impeding challenge for refuges welfare in that camp that have been established five weeks ago.

¡°Water shortage in this camp was an alarming issue weighing on the minds of both government, UNHCR and other partners. When refugees arrived here, there was no water and we used tankers to bring water from long distances. However, that mechanism couldn¡¯t solve the problem because sometimes water tankers could get stuck and delay to reach the camp especially when it rained. The situation got worse when one person could hardly get 9liters of water per day while the international standards require at least 15 to 20 liters per person per day¡± said Antoine Ruvebana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs.

¡°We invested necessary efforts to solve the problem and we are now very proud that running water has reached the camp. The required standards are exceeded and the quantity of water we have here can even serve the local community.¡± Ruvebana added

Refugees in Mahama extolled the efforts of the government and partners to supply enough water to the camp.

¡°We used to get up in the night and queue for hours to get water. It was really a serious threat to our welfare. But we are happy that today the issue is solved and you can see that there are no people now queuing to fetch water.¡± said Terence Nzohawenayo, refugees representative in Mahama camp.

Water Tanks in Camp already installed

In order to definitely solve issues related to water and improve sanitation in Mahama camp and for neighboring community, diversified measures are undertaken including continuing using water tankers and constructing boreholes to drill water from the subsoil.

By Doreen Kagire