Rwanda receives the 19th group of 119 evacuees from Libya
The government of Rwanda has welcomed the 19th group of 119 evacuees from Libya, on September 26, 2024. This marks the first group after extending the evacuation agreement (‘Emergency Transit Mechanism, ETM) until December 31, 2025.
They orginate from five nationalities namely, 41 Sudanese, 36 Eritreans, 12 Somalis, 17 Ethiopians, and 13 South Sudanese.
Emergency Transit Mechanism is a program of HCR that aims to find refugees who have arrived in Libya, where they can live temporarily while looking for a permanent way to help them.
Mr Philippe Habinshuti, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry in charge of Disaster Management, said that regarding the fact that the agreement to receive these refugees has been extended for two years, they will continue to receive them as capacity is available and they will be helped to find lasting solutions.
The UNHCR representative in Rwanda, Ndèye Aissatou Masseck Ndiaye, said that through discussions, they will try to find the right solution for each person, whether it is to find a third country, to stay in Rwanda or to return home if the issues of the refugees have been resolved.
The refugees received in the 19th round were taken to the Gashora Settlement Camp located in Bugesera District, where they will be accommodated.
The first group of 66 evacuees arrived in Rwanda on September 26, 2019. Since then, over 2400 have been received with 1835 resettled to third countries.
