Refugees and hosts

Some 470,000 refugees and over 1.9 million Tanzanians live in communities with humanitarian needs in the country.

Substantial numbers of refugees, albeit lower than in previous years, have continued to flee into Tanzania.

Meanwhile, large-scale voluntary repatriation to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been hindered by the ongoing civil and political unrest in those countries.

The number of people returning was offset by new births in the camps and new arrivals. This situation is not expected to improve in the short term.

People in western Tanzania have faced chronic underdevelopment due to the continued presence of refugees combined with minimal investment by the Government, UN agencies, donors and NGOs.

Conditions are worst in the Kagera and Kigoma regions where 2,033,880 and 1,679,109 people live respectively, according to a recent census.

The continuous influx of refugees into Kagera and Kigoma in particular has put a strain on host populations that receive relatively little development assistance.

While the host community has benefited from some inputs for refugee operations, a perceived disparity of assistance provision has spurred tensions between the two populations.

Holistic response

In response, agencies have prepared a Common Humanitarian Action Plan, adopting a holistic approach to mitigate a potential rise in tensions between refugees and their host communities.

The plan also seeks to ensure that the long-term impact of refugees does not undermine development efforts in refugee-affected areas.

The CAP seeks to address critical gaps in assistance at regional, district, sectoral and beneficiary levels not fully covered by other programmes.

Over 20 United Nations, NGO, and Government agencies and departments were involved in the preparation of this strategy.

In 2004, UN and NGOs will support Government efforts to achieve four objectives:

• Alleviate human suffering and hunger
• Protect human rights
• Provide basic services
• Formulate a sustainable programme for the development of western Tanzania

These objectives will be achieved through activities in seven key sectors: Food security and agriculture; health and nutrition; water and sanitation; education; co-ordination and governance; protection of vulnerable groups; and protection and assistance to refugees.

But achievement of CAP goals and the ability of agencies to implement effective interventions will depend also on targeted public investment to gradually raise socio-economic conditions in western Tanzania.

The 2004 CAP makes a strong appeal to donors to ensure that adequate humanitarian assistance is provided to meet international minimum standards, reduce future vulnerability and promote conditions for sustainable development in western Tanzania.

Request

This CAP is appealing for a total of US$ 38,766,187.

Funding Requirements in 2004
(US$)