Refugees have access to water, one of essential social needs Photo: Internet
It has been about 2 months since the Congolese refugees were brought into Kigeme refugee camp in Nyamagabe district and some of these refugees have started to make a living out of their conditions by doing petty jobs.
The camp is said to be accommodating about 13000 refugees who runaway from the insecurities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and most of these refugees are ready to face up to life and do what they can to survive while making some money.
Desange Mukashema one of the first refugees that were brought to this refugee camp opened up her skills and now she is in tailoring using a sewing machine that she borrowed from people neighbouring the camp. Mukashema says that ever since she started tailoring, she has been able to buy her basic daily needs like soap and salt.
The United nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provide food to these refugees but these refugees say that the food is not enough to give a person all nutrients required and that is why they buy more food.
Olive Mukeshimana a 20 year old refugee also sells some of the petty things like soaps, match boxes, biscuits and others. Mukeshimana who was a petty trader before fleeing her country decided to keep her trade so as to get what to feed her 5 years old child who had refused eating the food provided to them but now is growing well and they are living a better life.
She has already registered to continue her education as she fled while still studying and she intends to do it alongside her trade.
The camp that accommodates about 13000 Congolese refugees
People that do petty trading in this refugee camp say that the little money they make makes it easy to provide for themselves though they utmost wish is for the war to end and for them to go back to their homes and their country and meanwhile they still have hope to life.