The group, received on Wednesday night, marks the 21st cohort of evacuees to arrive in Rwanda from Libya.
The individuals originate from four countries: 14 from Eritrea, 81 from Sudan, 21 from Ethiopia, and 21 from South Sudan.
Established in 2019, the Emergency Transit Mechanism is a partnership between the Government of Rwanda, UNHCR, and the African Union. It aims to provide lifesaving protection, assistance, and long-term solutions for vulnerable refugees trapped in Libya by temporarily relocating them to Rwanda while durable resettlement options are pursued.
In August last year, the Rwandan government, UNHCR, and the African Union Commission (AUC) agreed to extend the ETM program until December 31, 2025.
In a joint statement issued on August 22, 2024, the three parties reaffirmed their commitment to protecting evacuees and finding lasting solutions for them, while offering a safe haven in Rwanda.
"The Government of Rwanda reaffirms its unwavering commitment to receive and protect these individuals, as well as others identified as particularly vulnerable and at risk," the statement read in part.
The parties also announced that a second addendum to the original Memorandum of Understanding, signed on September 10, 2019, had been adopted. It emphasizes a more transparent selection process for evacuees, ensuring equal opportunities for all potential candidatesâ€"regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, age, or any other factor beyond vulnerability.
The first group of 66 evacuees arrived in Rwanda on September 26, 2019. Since then, a total of 2,760 individuals have been evacuated, with more than 2,100 already resettled in third countries.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-receives-over-130-refugees-from-libya
