While in Bunagana town council, the refugees camped in schools, churches, and public markets. As a result, school furniture was damaged as refugees turned desks and benches into firewood for cooking.
The
government has committed to rehabilitating facilities that were spoilt by Congolese
refugees in Bunagana town council.
Last month,
more than 20,000 refugees crossed into Kisoro District since the outbreak of
heavy fighting between the M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic
Republic of Congo (FARDC) in Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu province.
The refugees
first camped at Bunagana town council until Kisoro District authorities and the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) started efforts to gather
them at Nyakabande refugees transit centre in Nkakabande sub-county.
While in
Bunagana town council, the refugees camped in schools, churches, and public markets. As a result, school furniture was damaged as
refugees turned desks and benches into firewood for cooking.
Some of the
affected primary schools include Bunagana Muslim, Kampiriko, Teddy Bear,
Bunarenga Pride, Breast future, Giharo, Kabaya, and Nangu. Operations of
the affected schools were closed for more than a week to allow refugees to get
accommodation.
Esther
Anyakun, Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees says that
all the affected facilities will be renovated. According to Anyakun, officials
from the Office of the Prime Minister have already conducted an assessment of
the schools, health facilities, and public toilets that were affected.
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Anyakun
however says that no rehabilitation will be conducted if refugees return
and ruin the facilities because the department is overwhelmed with demands from
other parts of the country. She explains that once the works are completed, the
responsibility of managing the facilities will be in the hands of Kisoro
district officials.
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Hajji
Shafique Ssekandi Ssengoba, the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, and Abel
Bizimana, Kisoro District LCV Chairperson welcome the commitment saying that
due to the influx of the refugees, all the public toilets in Bunagana are full.
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But Ismail
Ndayambaje, Bunagana Town Council LCIII Chairman says some schools were not
assessed by officials from the Office of the Prime Minister.
He cited
Kabaya Primary School which was left in shambles by the refugees.
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Ndayambaje
also says that the government should provide food relief to Bunagana residents
since they surrendered their food to the refugees.
