UNHCR / DRC DISPLACED FAMILIES RWANDA

Families caught up in conflict in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are crossing the border into neighbouring Rwanda seeking safety. About 1,000 asylum seekers have arrived at the Rugerero site, which is currently under construction and has been specifically designated by the Government of Rwanda to receive new arrivals. UNHCR

• Video Length: 00:03:16
• Production Date: 31 January 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGUEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: ARMED CONFLICTS; MINERAL RESOURCES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: RWANDA; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO; UGANDA
• MAMS Id: 3334250
• Parent Id: 3334250
• Alternate Title: unifeed250131b

Description

STORY: UNHCR / DRC DISPLACED FAMILIES RWANDA
TRT: 03:16
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR ON SCREEN
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 JANUARY 2025, RUGERORO, RWANDA

Shotlist

1. Various shots, displaced families carrying luggage walking to reception centre
2. Wide shot, humanitarian workers guiding new arrivals
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ndeye Aissatou Masseck Ndiaye, Representative, Rwanda, UNHCR:
“We are in Rugerero, which is the new site where the government of Rwanda has hosted the people that have crossed the border from Goma following the conflict that has really continued recently. And up to now the government has received about a thousand people that have arrived, they continue coming to be accommodated here. So, some basic services are being availed for them.
4. Various shots, tents sheltering new arrivals
5. Med shot, people standing near tent frame
6. Med shot, families sheltering in tent
7. Various shots, Ndeye Aissatou Masseck Ndiaye, walking in site
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ndeye Aissatou Masseck Ndiaye, Representative, Rwanda, UNHCR:
“We as the United Nations community, we are all in cooperation mode. We would like to know more about the situation, the needs, the gaps that are there, together with MINEMA, which is the ministry in charge of refugee management, we are going to assess this and make sure that we put all the contributions, and the resources, that we are ready to avail as one family the United Nations.“
9. Various shots, families sheltering at site
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ndeye Aissatou Masseck Ndiaye, Representative, Rwanda, UNHCR:
“It is very, very, much the beginning of the movements of people, so we need to be vigilant and continue to do the monitoring and support them as the need arise. It's quite volatile, we don't know also, what's going to happen on the other side, today it is calm, we hope it will continue to be peaceful, but we have to be, as I mentioned, very vigilant and be ready and prepared to respond, as the need arise.”
11. Med shot, men standing outside tent
12. Med shot, people walking at site

Storyline

Families caught up in conflict in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are crossing the border into neighbouring Rwanda seeking safety.

About 1,000 asylum seekers have arrived at the Rugerero site, which is currently under construction and has been specifically designated by the Government of Rwanda to receive new arrivals.

UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, is working closely with the government to refine contingency plans and support the coordination of key partners.

The UNHCR Representative in Rwanda, Ndeye Aissatou Masseck Ndiaye visited the border and the Rugerero site on Wednesday (29 Jan) to better understand immediate needs and ensure a
coordinated response with the GoR and partners.

The latest fighting comes after decades of clashes between the Congolese armed forces and various non-State armed groups, which have caused widespread violations of human rights, and devastating incidents of gender-based violence have caused unprecedented levels of humanitarian needs including shelter, food, clean water, and medical care.

Goma hosts a significant number of people uprooted from their homes by conflict in parts of eastern Congo, most crowd into spontaneous or formal sites, where they face persistent security risks and
limited availability of aid.

In recent months conflict has intensified across South and North Kivu Provinces. Last week the
number of people displaced had surged to more than 400,000 this year alone.

The conflict has displaced over 6.4 million people within DRC, which is also host to more than
525,000 refugees from nearby Central African Republic, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi.

UNHCR teams in neighbouring countries, along with government partners, continue to monitor the
situation and are prepared to provide assistance, should the numbers of people fleeing surge.