When Marie(not real name) arrived at Bwagiriza Camp after fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she carried little more than the clothes on her back. Alongside her three children, she faced the uncertainty of starting over in a new environment with limited resources and no place to call home.

Life in the camp was challenging. Without a mattress, the family slept on the bare floor. The lack of mosquito nets exposed them to mosquito-borne diseases, while limited access to hygiene items made it difficult to maintain proper sanitation and personal dignity.

Everything changed when they received essential non-food items (NFIs) through AIRD’s ongoing distribution program. The family was provided with mattresses, mosquito nets, hygiene kits, and clothing, items that may seem simple but have a profound impact on daily life.

“Now my children sleep comfortably and safely under mosquito nets,” Marie shared. “The hygiene kit helps us stay clean, and the clothes have restored our confidence. We feel cared for and respected.”

Marie’s story reflects the experience of thousands of refugees in Bwagiriza Camp. Approximately 8,000 Congolese refugees rely on essential support to meet their basic needs and rebuild their lives with dignity. Through continuous NFI distributions and coordinated humanitarian efforts, including recent clothing distributions at the Busuma Refugee Site, AIRD is helping vulnerable families create safer, healthier living conditions.

Beyond the items distributed, these interventions provide something equally important: hope. They remind displaced families that they are not forgotten and that support is available as they work toward a more stable future.