Rwanda: Orphanage supports ICRC’s efforts to reunite families

Kigali (ICRC) – As part of its family-reunification programme, the ICRC delegation in Rwanda is pursuing its efforts to ensure that unaccompanied children are placed in shelters where they can be cared for until their relatives are found. With a view to improving the children’s daily lives, the ICRC occasionally delivers aid to these shelters.

A delivery was made today to the Cité de la Miséricorde Rusayo in Rusizi district, West province, an orphanage that also takes in unaccompanied children.The aid provided by the ICRC consisted of hygiene items, bedding and classroom materials. In all, 2,138 notebooks, 855 pens, 257 pencils, 86 geometry kits, 86 uniforms, 360 mosquito nets, 150 blankets, 60 mattresses and 720 cakes of soap were given to the orphanage to meet the children’s needs.

The ICRC and the orphanage have been partners for many years. Since 1995 the orphanage has taken in children separated from their families by conflict in the region. It currently shelters 360 children, 15 of whom are waiting for their families to be found. The length of stay ranges from several weeks to several months, depending on how long it takes to find the families. All the children receive the same quality of care.

The ICRC’s efforts to reunite families are complementary to those undertaken by the authorities, whom the organization informs about children whose relatives could not be found. During the first half of 2007, the ICRC managed to bring 48 unaccompanied children back together with their families.

Towards the end of 2007 the ICRC plans to deliver food to the Rusayo orphanage, as it does each year.

For further information, please contact:

Georgia Trismpioti, ICRC Kigali, tel : +250 577344 or +250 0830 5069

Gad Niyomugabo, ICRC Kigali, tel : +250 577344 or +250 0852 2167

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