Elderly people are among the most vulnerable in refugee camps, and need extra care to withstand the harsh conditions of the camps. Little Sun responded to this need by donating 300 solar lamps to UNHCR Rwanda to distribute amongst elderly refugees.
We are happy to report that the lamps have now reached older people living in the Nyabiheke and Gihembe refugee camps, Rwanda, giving them a sense of dignity, comfort and security after dark.
Rwanda is located in a region affected by ongoing tensions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi. It has been hosting refugees for decades, while also receiving and reintegrating Rwandan returnees. In 2015, UNHCR focused on protecting, assisting and finding long-term solutions for 74,000 Congolese (DRC) refugees hosted in Rwanda since 1996, including through a large-scale resettlement programme. Also in 2015, UNHCR responded to a sudden influx of Burundian refugees fleeing electoral violence. Over 77,000 refugees, of which nearly 71,000 were still in the country at the end of 2015, were registered and assisted.
We are pleased that our work is reaching out to these most vulnerable communities to bring light and protection in the darkness. We will announce our latest projects in the region in the very near future.
If you are a humanitarian aid worker and you would like to assist us in spreading light and energy to refugees, please contact our Humanitarian team:
More information on our partner:
UNHCR Rwanda protects and assists more than 54,999 refugees, the vast majority from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), followed by small numbers from Burundi, Chad and Somalia.
