Visit to Nkamira Transit Center (July 20th)
(Left: Ambassador Ogawa with Ms. Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of WFP and Mr. Antonie Ruvebana, Permanent Secretary of MIDIMAR, Right: Ambassador Ogawa looking at a food package for children)
(Left: Karate demonstration by Children in Nkamira Transit Center, Right: Ambassador making remarks to refugees)
On 20th July, with the invitation of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Ambassador Ogawa visited the Nkamira Transit Center in the Western Province, together with Ms Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of WFP, Mr Antonie Ruvebana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), and other concerned stakeholders. About 10,000 Congolese refugees and Rwandan returnees are living in the center, though its accommodation capacity is only about 2,500.
Japan has had a great concern about the new influx of a great number of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), due to the instability of its eastern part. Therefore, the Government of Japan was working closely with MIDIMAR, while having made a contribution in the Japan's financial year of 2012, totalling 5.9 million U.S. dollars to relevant U.N. organizations in Rwanda for improving the livelihoods of refugees in Nkamira and Kigeme. The contribution has been used for, among others, providing foods and education, enhancing water and sanitation conditions, and ensuring child protection.