A large number of Rwandans living in Israel are students, particularly those studying agriculture. Most of them have received scholarships through Israel's MASHAV program, which is part of the country's development aid efforts.
These students attend school one day a week, while the remaining days are spent working in the fields, often for up to eight hours. Each student has an agricultural expert assigned to them for guidance.
As the conflict intensifies between Israel and Iran, many countries have begun urging their citizens to return home as soon as possible. Those who are unable to leave have been advised to stay close to their embassies, where they can receive assistance in organizing their repatriation.
Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided specific figures on the number of Rwandans in Israel and Iran, they assured that all Rwandans in both countries are safe.
'All Rwandans living in Iran and Israel are safe , but contingency plans are in place to ensure their orderly return if necessary,' an official from the ministry told IGIHE.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe recently told The East African that while Rwanda doesn't have known nationals in Iran, efforts are underway to determine if any Rwandans are currently in the country.
Rwanda has a history of assisting its citizens during times of conflict, having previously repatriated Rwandans from conflict zones like Sudan during escalated violence. Other neighboring countries are also taking steps to evacuate their citizens from Israel and Iran.
Uganda, for example, has repatriated 48 of its citizens, primarily students, from both countries via neighboring states.
Uganda has reached out to countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Jordan, requesting them to grant visas to Ugandan nationals fleeing the conflict. These individuals are being offered refuge and assistance as they leave Israel and Iran.
Meanwhile, many flights to and from Israel have been suspended. Ethiopian Airlines, which previously operated many of these flights from Sub-Saharan Africa, has canceled all its scheduled trips to the country.
The conflict has already claimed over 600 lives in Iran due to Israeli airstrikes, while 24 Israeli citizens have also lost their lives since the war began.
IGIHE
