12,000 Burundian refugees have already registered for repatriation...
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Some Burundian refugees hosted in Tanzania will
be repatriated on September 7 following an agreement reached by the host
government, Burundian authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR).
The decision was reached after long discussions
involving the three parties on how best to repatriate the refugees. This move
will involve refugees who have voluntarily chosen to go back home.
In the talks held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was
represented by Home Affairs minister Mwigulu Nchemba, while his Burundian
counterpart Pascal Barandagiye led the Burundi delegation and the UN body was
represented by Chansa Kipaya.
The participants signed the resolution that
officially opens the door for refugees to voluntarily go back to their country.
Speaking at the event, Mr Nchemba said despite
the repatriation, Tanzania will continue to host refugees while observing the
international laws to that effect as it has always been doing.
Some 12,000 Burundian refugees have already
registered for repatriation and Mr Nchemba was optimistic the number would rise
in the near future.
“At the moment, Tanzania hosts over 350,000
rufugees. Most of them are from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC). The move does not only offer a permanent solution to refugees but it
also provides them with platforms to effectively participate in development
activities in their home countries,” he said.
He said, most refugees attained the status after fleeing
political conflicts in Burundi. However, the situation has started normalising
making it safe and possible for them to return home.
“Recently, Burundi President Pierre Nkurunzinza
visited his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli, during their meeting the
matter (refugees) featured and Mr Nkurunzinza reassured President Magufuli that
the situation in Burundi has improved,” said Mr Nchemba.
The minister insisted that Tanzania government
has not and will never use force to deport refugees.
“We’re acting according to the international
treaties guiding refugee welfare. One of their requests was to be escorted back
home by police. The government is looking into that,” he said.
Apart from Burundi and DRC other refugees who
have been hosted in Tanzania include those from Somalia and Yemen. Most
refugees live in camps located in Kigoma and Kagera regions.
In July, President Magufuli ordered the
suspension of naturalisation of Burundian refugees, and said those still in
Tanzania should voluntarily return home as the security situation had improved.
Dr Magufuli issued the directive while in Ngara
District, which borders Burundi, after holding talks with his Burundian
counterpart, Mr Nkurunziza.
Addressing a public rally that was also attended
by President Nkurunziza, Dr Magufuli said granting Burundian refugees Tanzanian
citizenship was not the best solution at the moment given the fact that their
country of origin’s security situation had stabilised.
Recently, the United Nations World Food Programme
(WFP) announced it has been forced to reduce food rations for 320,000 refugees
in Mtendeli, Nduta and Nyarugusu camps in northwest Tanzania as a result of
funding shortfalls.
WFP urgently requires $23.6 million from now
through to December 2017 to be able to continue meeting the food and
nutritional needs of refugees in Tanzania.
WFP provides refugees, primarily from Burundi and
the DRC, with five food commodities: maize meal, pulses, super cereal,
vegetable oil and salt.
Due to funding shortages, all five commodities were
reduced for the August distribution, reaching only 62 per cent of the 2,100
required kilocalories which is the recommended daily calorie intake.
“Without an immediate response from donors,
further ration cuts will be necessary as food stocks are simply running out,”
WFP Tanzania Country Representative, Michael Dunford was quoted as saying.
He added, “WFP appeals to donors to quickly come
to the aid of the refugees and provide additional funding so that we can return
to full rations and avoid any prolonged negative impacts.”
WFP warned that reducing rations will result to
far-reaching and potentially life-altering consequences for refugees. Cutting
the intake of kilocalories and nutritional support can lead to acute
malnutrition and increased vulnerability to disease.
In addition to the five food items, WFP also
provides hot meals for refugees upon arrival, supplemental rations for pregnant
and nursing women and food assistance to hospital in-patients and people living
with HIV/Aids.
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