Tanzania’s refugee burden
The refugee situation is difficult. Photo|file
What you need to know:
Since political violence broke out in Burundi in April, last year, more than 141,000 people have fled the troubled country for the safety of refugee camps in western Tanzania
Kasulu. Tanzania hosts the world’s third largest number of refugees, according to a Global Trends report released by the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR.
Since political violence broke out in Burundi in April, last year, more than 141,000 people have fled the country for the safety of refugee camps in western Tanzania.
The influx of refugees has created a precarious situation in refugee camps in Kigoma Region, with Nyarugusu camp accommodating over 130,000 refugees, well above its capacity of 50,000.
The UNHCR spokesperson in Tanzania, Ms Chansa Kapaya, acknowledges that the situation is difficult.
“Our priority is to decongest Nyarugusu and move people out so that we can reduce the number to the minimum of capacity of 50,000 and also provide people with better shelter,” she told journalists at the camp on Monday.
Ms Chansa also said the UNHCR’s response to the Burundi crisis was underfunded by over $40 million, with the agency having received only 40 per cent of the funds it needs.
She praised the Tanzanian government for assisting with the opening of two extra camps since last October.
Kigoma Regional Commissioner Emmanuel Maganga said the regional administration was struggling to cope with the influx of refugees.
He said refugees should abide by Tanzania’s encampment rules and refrain from leaving camps illegally.
“We value you, but you all need to live by Tanzanian rules. There are refugees who leave the camps and go elsewhere to commit crime. This is not expected of people who have fled their own country and sought refuge in a neighbouring country,” Brigadier General (rtd) Maganga said during the event organised to mark World Refugee Day.
