Norway to take in 500 rescued refugees from Rwanda

Refugees at at Gashura transit centre
The refugees are mainly Eritrean and Somali nationals who had attempted to cross over to EuropeImage caption: The refugees are mainly Eritrean and Somali nationals who had attempted to cross over to Europe

Norway has offered to take in 500 refugees who were evacuated to Rwanda from Libyan detention centres.

Sweden has already taken in seven refugees, The New Times, a pro-Rwandan government newspaper, quotes Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta as saying.

Rwanda signed an agreement last year with the UN refugee agency and the African Union to resettle migrants who had become trapped in dangerous conditions in Libya while trying to reach Europe.

Norwegian Justice Minister Joeran Kallmyr was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying Norway would take in an additional 100 refugees by the end of the year.

“It’s important to me to show that we don’t support cynical people smugglers, and instead bring in people who need protection in an organised manner. A transit camp like the one in Rwanda will contribute to that effort,” Mr Kallmyr said.

The refugees are staying at Gashura transit centre, about 55km (34 miles) south of the capital, Kigali. They are mainly Eritrean and Somali nationals.Article share tools

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