From left to right: MIDIMAR's Permanent Secretary, Mr. Antoine Ruvebana, the Resident Coordinator of One UN and Resident Representative of UNDP-Rwanda, Mr. Lamin Momodou Manneh, Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Hon. Séraphine Mukantabana, UNHCR Representative in Rwanda, Ms. Neimah Warsame, and Capt. Jean Damascene Kayitana, Advisor to the Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs  (Photo: Nausicaa Habimana Kantengwa)

Kigali, April 9th, 2013 – The One UN Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of UNDP-Rwanda, Mr. Lamin Momodou Manneh, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Séraphine Mukantabana, the new Rwandan Minister in charge of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs. Mr. Manneh was accompanied to the meeting by the UNHCR Representative in Rwanda, Ms. Neimah Warsame. The Resident Coordinator took the advantage of this occasion to congratulate the new Minister for her appointment to this important ministerial post and to reiterate his commitment to reinforce the already very good working relationship between the One UN and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR).

MIDIMAR is responsible for the safety of Rwandan communities through Disaster Risk Reduction, promoting Disaster Management for the wellbeing of Rwandan Communities, ensuring the assistance and protection of refugees in Rwanda, and reintegrating socio-economically Rwandan Returnees to allow them to achieve the living standards of other Rwandan citizens.

The Minister, Mr. Manneh, and Ms. Warsame also discussed the recent geopolitical developments in Eastern Congo, and how the One UN could effectively back the Government of Rwanda in responding to the challenges arising from it, including increased inflows of refugees and a significant number of M23 ex-combatants. More than 12,000 Congolese refugees have crossed into Rwandan border since November 2012. By the end of 2013, it is estimated that Rwanda will host approximately 70,000 Congolese refugees and 30,000 Rwandan Returnees.

Hon. Mukantabana and Mr. Manneh renewed the commitment to reinforce the already good cooperation between MIDIMAR and the One UN. Mr. Manneh concluded by assuring the Minister that both the issues of Disaster Management, through which UNDP renders technical support to the Government of Rwanda, and the issues of Refugees and Returnees are some of the core components of the new UN Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP), which will support the Second phase of the Government of Rwanda’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II) for 2013-2018.