Mahama (Rwanda): a worrying lack of hygiene

Refugees in Mahama camp fear the infection of diseases linked to lack of hygiene. The reason is that clogged public toilets take long to be emptied. Camp sanitation officials are struggling to fulfill their mission. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

At the Mahama camp in Rwanda, several public latrines are full, which is not without consequences for users.

“In several villages, these out-of-use public latrines are closed with padlocks or metal sheets with nails. This poses a problem because people no longer have toilets to use, and those that remain functional are used by a large number of refugees,” they indicate.

World Vision is the NGO that takes care of the sanitation aspect and should therefore unclog them.

“We don’t know why these latrines are not rehabilitated. However, agents of the NGO World Vision are permanently here. We demand that our lives be protected, otherwise diseases from dirty hands threaten us,” they worry.

The other worry is that public trash cans are also overflowing.

“We see children and even adults who go there to look for leftover food or coal or firewood. So, this is a big risk for our lives. And this is evident in almost every village. We are launching an appeal for help,” say Burundian and Congolese refugees from this camp located in eastern Rwanda.

Agents from the ministry in charge of refugees, MINEMA, held a meeting with World Vision and other stakeholders at the camp. They warned the camp’s hygiene managers.

“If there are any consequences, you will pay the cost because you receive funds to clean up and make the whole camp clean. Or, we will withdraw this contract from you and grant it to those who are capable of meeting hygiene standards, especially since the camp is a very sensitive environment where anything can happen due to lack of hygiene.” , declared MINEMA officials who demanded that all clogged latrines and trash cans be unclogged immediately.

Refugee leaders are delighted that the order was given in the presence of other humanitarians such as the UNHCR which supervises all the agencies operating in the camp and added they are ready, as a beneficiary community, to help clean up their environment.

The Mahama camp hosts more than 63,000 refugees, including more than 40,000 Burundians, the rest being Congolese.