Refugees: Congolese and Why It Matters

More than 200,000 Congolese fled the violence in the eastern DRC to Burundi since last year. This is Musuma camp in eastern Burundi, which hosts more than 60,000 Congolese that fled their homes after the M23 rebel group captured the Ouvira in December last year. Hassan Masemo is a father of six who has decided to voluntarily return home with his family. I've decided to go home after suffering from hunger. I would prefer war than hunger because you can hide during war. You can get killed or survive, but hunger it can kill all of you. Right now, my family, you see how they look, they are hungry.

Some refugees have decided to leave not only because of poor conditions, but to reunite with their loved ones. I am a widow and I'm looking after my children. I came with some of them and other were left behind. I do not know if they are still alive or not. So, I want to go there to find out. The UNHCR says due to limited resources, it has only been able to accommodate 40% of refugees here and 60% of the 66,000 people are living in poor conditions. About 39,000 children are in this site and yet we have no facility for education. The children are here from morning to evening doing barely nothing. No one is sure of what to expect on the Congolese side of the border, even though the government

officials are optimistic. I'm very happy on what's happening today to assist the launch of the first convoy and I continue to thank Burundian authority for the continued support until the end of this mission. According to the Congolese government, about 7,000 people were killed in the DRC since the beginning of this year with thousands fleeing to neighboring countries. Emotions are running high. Many long separated from their families say they understand the risks of returning home, but for them reuniting with their loved ones is priceless. At least 2,000 Congolese refugees are expected to be

repatriated every week according to the Burundi government, but for many Congolese, this is not only returning home, it's hope that the conflict is coming to an end. Moses Avi Remana, TRT World, Kavimvira, DRC.