File photo of refugees from the Democaric Republic of Congo seen at Kitale police station in Trans-Nzoia County in the Rift Valley region, Kenya, Nov. 5, 2013. (Xinhua/Robert Manyara)
KIGALI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Rwandan police will start investigations into the causes of Tuesday's protests at Kiziba Refugee Camp in Karongi District in western Rwanda, which houses thousands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) refugees, said the Rwandan government on Wednesday.
Several refugees were injured during the protest as they pelted security personnel with stones, Director of Refugees Affairs in Rwanda's Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees affairs Jean Claude Rwahama told Xinhua by phone later Wednesday.
In the protest, the refugees also attempted to attack the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Karongi, Rwahama added.
The protests followed a decision of the World Food Program (WFP) to reduce food assistance to all refugees hosted in Rwanda by 25 percent, due to funding shortage, said a statement issued government spokesperson office.
Refugee representatives have been meeting the camp management, local authorities as well as partner agencies of the United Nations to discuss the situation, said Jean Claude Rwahama, Director of Refugees Affairs in Rwanda's Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees affairs, in the statement.
"It is unfortunate that some refugees resorted to violence even as local authorities and security personnel were working to find a solution to their grievances," said Rwahama.
Several people were injured during the protest, but there were no fatalities, he said.
"We remain mindful of the rights of refugees but also caution them that they must respect the laws of the host country," said the director, adding that the police will carry out thorough investigations into the matter.
"Whoever is behind the unlawful acts will have to account for it," he said.
The refugees' claims have been heard by government partners and a solution would be found through "negotiation, not though violent protests," said the official.
The Kiziba camp is one of the five refugee camps in Rwanda. It was established in 1996 when thousands of Congolese refugees were fleeing insecurity in eastern DR Congo.
The camp currently hosts more than 17,000 refugees, according to Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees affairs.
