Refugees who served in security forces told to register for protection

ROSE ATHUMANI in Kasulu

Kigoma Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General (Retired) Emmanuel Maganga.

THE government has called on refugees who previously served as security officers in their home countries to avail themselves for registration at local government offices for special protection.

Speaking during the celebrations to mark the World Refugees Day at Nyarugusu Camp here, the Kigoma Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General (Retired) Emmanuel Maganga, said there are special camps for refugees who were former members of security forces in their home country. The RC was representing the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Hamad Masauni.

The RC also called on refugees to refrain from engaging in criminal activities noting that those with fire arms should surrender them to respective authorities. RC Maganga appealed to the international community for more refugees support, noting that the support should not be classified according to a country but should all be the same.

He pointed out that some refugees in other countries have permanent structures while in Tanzania they are housed in camps which get flooded during rainy season.

Speaking during the celebrations, the UNHCR Country representative in Tanzania, Ms Chansa Kapaya praised Tanzania as a country that is leading by example, noting that at one time it hosted one of the largest refugee populations -over half a million- in Africa.

Ms Kapaya said for decades Tanzania has been an exemplary leader not only generously sheltering and assisting others in need, but also in finding comprehensive solutions to end the cycle of displacement.

“We shall never forget, the unprecedented and historic offer of citizenship to over 162,000 former 1972 Burundian refugees, who were granted Tanzanian citizenship in 2010, and who had spent over 40 years in this country as refugees, many of them born in Tanzania, a country which they have now come to love and regard as home,” she explained.

She noted that Tanzania has over the years demonstrated a remarkable leadership role in the region, promoting peace, dialogue, reconciliation and stability. “The test of time has not weakened Tanzanian generosity.

When the ongoing political tension in Burundi forced thousands to flee to Tanzania again last year, Tanzania welcomed the fleeing people, for many of whom this is not the first time their lives have been disrupted and have previously sought asylum in Tanzania,” she added.

Prior to the influx of Burundian refugees in April last year, Nyarugusu refugee Camp was the only single remaining refugee camp in Tanzania, accommodating just over 65,000 refugees, mainly Congolese from DRC.

“As a result of the political and civil unrest in Burundi, Nyarugusu in addition became home to thousands of Burundian refugees with the new arrival hitting the 100,000 mark by 1st of October 2015, surging the camp population to over three times its carrying capacity and making it one of the largest and most overcrowded camps in the world,” Ms Kapaya explained.

The influx of Burundian refugees necessitated the re-opening of Nduta and Mtendeli, former refugee camps in October 2015 and January 2016 respectively.

“The celebration are being held in Kigoma region in recognition of the extraordinary generosity of the government and the people of Tanzania in providing shelter in response to the new influx of Burundian refugees,” she explained.

In their brief to the RC, the refugees appealed to the government to prioritise health in the camp and assist in providing education to girls who drop out of school often due to various reasons.