Photo Credit: Refugees International/ Sarah Martin
05/04/2005

Rwandan refugees prepare to return home at the Nkamira Transit Site near Gisenyi, Rwanda. Rwanda is preparing for the long-awaited return of former combatants and refugees who have been living in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for more than 10 years. The support of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies will be vital to the success of the return process.

In this densely populated small country, access to land for food production is essential for stability. Humanitarian agencies have been providing food assistance to those returning to Rwanda. However, due to a break in the food pipeline, the UN World Food Program (WFP) has cut rations to its recipients by 30%, with corn-soy-blend (CSB) rations, which provide supplementary feeding for malnourished individuals, cut from a standard 100 grams to 30 grams. WFP anticipates a complete cut in service in the next few weeks. Refugees International is calling on the international community to provide immediate funding to replenish food stocks in Rwanda.