Congolese and Burundian refugees fleeing political persecution, as well as economic and social unrest, continue to cross into Rwanda. More than 135,000 refugees were in Rwanda as at October 2023, 91% of whom lived in refugee camps. Continued political instability and insecurity and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo are leading to more arrivals.
Most of the refugees rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, especially for food. They face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food insecurity levels, with food assistance preventing a worse food insecurity outcome. They have scare livelihood opportunities, with an estimated half of them without any livelihood or income source as at May 2022. High food prices continue to erode the purchasing power of the cash transfer assistance provided to the refugees.
Agriculture is central to Rwanda’s economy, contributing around 65% of the total employment. The country is vulnerable to natural hazards, with the frequency and intensity of extreme events such as floods and droughts increasing over the past 30 years. Such natural hazards affect agriculture activities. Floods also increase the risk of the outbreak and transmission of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and cholera.
(UNHCR accessed 05/02/2024, FEWS NET 01/11/2023, UNHCR/WFP 14/03/2023, NISR 01/2024, WB accessed 05/02/2024)
Congolese and Burundian refugees fleeing political persecution, as well as economic and social unrest, continue to cross into Rwanda. More than 135,000 refugees were in Rwanda as at October 2023, 91% of whom lived in refugee camps. Continued political instability and insecurity and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo are leading to more arrivals.
Most of the refugees rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, especially for food. They face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food insecurity levels, with food assistance preventing a worse food insecurity outcome. They have scare livelihood opportunities, with an estimated half of them without any livelihood or income source as at May 2022. High food prices continue to erode the purchasing power of the cash transfer assistance provided to the refugees.
Agriculture is central to Rwanda’s economy, contributing around 65% of the total employment. The country is vulnerable to natural hazards, with the frequency and intensity of extreme events such as floods and droughts increasing over the past 30 years. Such natural hazards affect agriculture activities. Floods also increase the risk of the outbreak and transmission of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and cholera.
(UNHCR accessed 05/02/2024, FEWS NET 01/11/2023, UNHCR/WFP 14/03/2023, NISR 01/2024, WB accessed 05/02/2024)
