Hope and safety for refugees and asylum seekers through the Emergency Transit Mechanism

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNHCR, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) and the African Union (AU) established, with the support of the European Union, the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) Centre in Gashora Sector, Bugesera District, Rwanda in 2019. In August 2024; UNCT, jointly with DPs, had the opportunity to visit and engage in a globally unique multistakeholder refugee protection response mechanism

While running their shop in Sudan, Abdallah and his wife Babeker, together with their three children, never imagined that they would one day become asylum seekers. 

“I was living a simple life, thinking of the future of my family, of my children” Abdallah recounts to members of the UN Rwanda Country Team during their field visit to Bugesera District on 30th August 2024.

 

The joint UNCT field visit serves as an opportunity for the Team to gain a greater awareness of the purpose of the ETM in Rwanda and needs of refugees and asylum seekers evacuated there. As well as to better understand the complementarity of UN interventions in Rwanda and how UN joint programmes can relate to the population hosted at the ETM.

The arduous journey of Abdallah’s family from Sudan to Rwanda

War erupted in their homeland in 2023, and Abdallah’s family was forced to flee Sudan leaving everything behind. In search of safety, they took a long and exhausting journey crossing the Sahara Desert on their way to Libya. But safety was nowhere to be found. They faced gunfire, bandits, and constant threats along the way, with no relief even as they made it into Libya. 

“In the Sahara, I faced a lot of challenges and troubles with my little children,” the 31-year-old father recalls. His wife Babeker adds that “the journey was very difficult. But there was no other solution but to leave Sudan.” 

After registering with UNHCR in Libya, the UN Refugee Agency, Abdallah and his family were eventually evacuated to Rwanda through the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM). Following months of uncertainty and hardship, they arrived at the ETM Centre in Gashora in November 2023, hoping for a fresh start and a safer future.

The transit centre in Gashora, with capacity to accommodate 700 evacuees at a time, was established in September 2019 by UNHCR, the Government of Rwanda and the African Union, with the support of the European Union. Since its establishment, over 2,400 refugees and asylum seekers from Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mali have been evacuated from Libya.

"Rwanda has welcomed us as refugees and done so much for us. It opened its doors to us," Abdallah points out. “When we arrived here in Rwanda, we felt the safety, security, and stability.”

Asiya, a Somali lady evacuated from Libya to Rwanda, shares similar feelings to those of Abdallah.

“We are currently living a life that is much better than the one we had in Libya, where we faced extremely low living conditions and trauma,” she explains. “Since arriving here, we have been able to restart our lives with new hopes, and we have been given the opportunity for resettlement. We have been welcomed warmly, and today we are living a good life.”

While evacuees temporarily remain in Rwanda after being evacuated from Libya, UNHCR provides shelter along with access to healthcare, psychosocial support, and livelihood training. This support, made possible through Denmark's steadfast assistance and a strong partnership with the European Union (EU), aids evacuees during the processing of their files and identification of long-term solutions, including potential resettlement to third countries."

For instance, Abdallah says he started learning and practicing English, while others are involved in various activities such as computer courses, driving lessons, weaving, and knitting. They also offer beauty salons and hairdressing training, among others.

As Abdallah and his family await resettlement to the USA, he hopes for a better future for them. 

“My dreams and hopes are to see my family – my children and my wife – living a happy and prosperous life,” he shares. 

“I want my children to learn and study so they can contribute to the society they live in. I wish for each of them to pursue their dreams, whether it be becoming an engineer, a doctor, or anything else.”