HIGHLIGHTS
145,135 Newly arrived refugees (including births) had crossed into Tanzania by end of June 2016
130,249 Refugees were residing in Nyarugusu camp by end of June 2016
55,413 Burundian refugees were residing in Nduta camp by end of June 2016
24,487 Burundian refugees were residing in Mtendeli camp by end of June 2016
WORKING WITH PARTNERS
UNHCR works closely with other UN agencies through the UN Reform, Delivering as One initiative and participates in the UN Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP) 2011-2016, providing leadership for the Refugee Programme Working Group comprised of WFP, UNHCR, UNFPA, UNICEF and IOM. UNHCR also works with the Ministry of Home Affairs, its direct counterpart in Tanzania, while maintaining excellent and productive relations with other Government agencies.
Under the Refugee Coordination Model (RCM), UNHCR leads and coordinates the response to the Burundi refugee emergency in Tanzania. The RCM is intended to provide an inclusive platform for planning and coordinating refugee response in order to ensure that refugees and other persons of concern receive the protection and assistance they require through the collective efforts and capacities of all partners involved.
In the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Persons of Concern, UNHCR has partnered with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Refugee Services Department (RSD), Ministry of Health (MOH), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD), Alima Soigner Ensemble (ALIMA), CARITAS, Community Environmental Management and Development Organization (CEMDO), Centre for the Study of Forced Migration (CSFM), Church World Service (CWS), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Good Neighbors International (GNI), Help Age International, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF Belgium, Switzerland and Holland), Oxfam Great Britain (Oxfam GB), Plan International, Relief to Development Society (REDESO), Save the Children, Tanzanian Red Cross Society (TRCS), Tanganyika Christian Refugee Services (TCRS), Tanzania Water and Environmental Sanitation (TWESA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Water Missions, the World Health Organization (WHO), Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC), the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Vision.
MONTHLY DEVELOPMENTS
- UNHCR Tanzania commemorated World Refugee Day on 20 June 2016 together with the refugees residing in Nyarugusu refugee camp in Kigoma region to the North West of the country. The Guest of Honour at the event was the Kigoma Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General (Retired) Emmanuel Maganga who was joined by the UNHCR Representative Ms. Chansa Kapaya. Other guests partaking in the commemorations were the Government’s regional and district authorities, the donor community (represented by a delegation from the Italian Embassy), UN sister agencies, NGO partners, media and the host community. Adopting the theme, “We stand together #With Refugees. Please stand with us”, the occasion was used to pay tribute to the courage, resilience, strength and determination of refugees and to increase the public's awareness and understanding of the issues which affect them. The day also served as an important opportunity to appreciate the generosity of Tanzania in providing refuge to those in need of asylum and to highlight the continued support of donors responding to the needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in the country. During the event the refugees in the camp exhibited their handcraft products and also performed traditional dances to display their cultural heritage. Furthermore, on 21 June 2016, UNHCR Tanzania also celebrated the World Refugee Day in Nduta and Mtendeli refugee camps together with the government, partners and refugee communities. Activities included performances, educational theatre scatches, a small football tournament including also women football teams.