KIGALI, Aug. 28 (AGCNewsNet) –- Rwanda's government is exploring the possibility of transitioning from refugee camps to sustainable settlements to promote inclusion, self-reliance, and durable solutions for refugees and host communities, according to official sources.

The government of Rwanda is exploring the possibility of transitioning from refugee camps to sustainable settlements which are in line with international commitments to promote inclusion, self-reliance, and durable solutions for refugees and host communities, according to a government statement.

Rwanda is currently host to 135,000 refugees and asylum seekers, 90 percent of whom live across five refugee camps: Kiziba, Nyabiheke, Kigeme, Mugombwa and Mahama, according to UNHCR data.

The proposed transition would move away from the traditional camp model towards more integrated settlements that allow refugees greater freedom of movement and economic opportunities, according to government officials familiar with the planning process.

This strategy outlines a roadmap to transition refugee households from dependency on humanitarian aid to self-reliance through inclusive and durable solutions, according to recent government communications on World Refugee Day celebrations.

The East African nation has already implemented progressive refugee policies that grant refugees the right to work using refugee identity cards without requiring work permits, according to existing legislation administered by the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA).

The Government of Rwanda as a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention as well as other related protocols and conventions; through the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) it ensures the overall general protection, security, and safety of the persons of concern, according to official government documentation.

The strategy focuses on graduating refugees who living in camps - out of assistance programs and increasing their formal access to work opportunities, according to the Global Compact on Refugees framework.

The proposed changes would build on Rwanda's existing policies that already make it one of the more liberal refugee host countries in the region, according to international observers and refugee advocacy groups.

Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe District, near the border with Tanzania, is currently the largest facility hosting refugees, primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, according to camp administrators.

Currently, refugees in five camps receive cash assistance in lieu of food, while refugees in Mahama camp receive food assistance partially in-kind and partially in cash, according to UN refugee response plans.

The Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management, which oversees refugee affairs in collaboration with UNHCR, was not immediately available for detailed comment on specific timelines for implementing the proposed settlement transition.

Any transition would be conducted gradually and in consultation with international partners including UNHCR to ensure the welfare and safety of refugee populations, according to sources familiar with the planning discussions.

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