February 2019 – Tanzania was host to over 327,000 refugees and asylum-seekers by November 30, 2018, mainly from Burundi (74.1%) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (25.7%). The majority of refugees and asylum-seekers are hosted by the Government of Tanzania in three refugee camps in northwestern Tanzania – Nyarugusu, Nduta, and Mtendeli. Since 2017, restrictions on access to territory and asylum have increased. All 19 border entry and reception points for Congolese as well as Burundian asylum seekers were closed between March 2017 and July 2018. In addition, despite widely-shared safety concerns about the situation in Burundi, the voluntary repatriation operation began in September 2017. As of November 30, 2018, 56,049 people had returned to Burundi as part of the operation. With GAC’s support, Oxfam Canada works to address the needs of up to 96,598 Congolese and Burundian conflict-affected refugees and asylum-seekers in Nduta Camp and surrounding host communities. The project focuses on providing access to safe and sustainable water sources for domestic use, gender-appropriate and safe sanitation facilities, and gender-sensitive and culturally appropriate hygiene materials and information. Project activities include: (1) improving water supply systems reaching up to 19,042 households; (2) rehabilitating and constructing sanitation facilities for up to 14,477 households; (3) establishing solid waste recycling systems for up to 18,742 households; and (4) providing gender-sensitive hygiene awareness sessions for up to 72,362 people.
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to safe, sustainable water for domestic use; (2) increased access to appropriate and safe sanitation facilities; and (3) increased access to culturally appropriate and gender-sensitive hygiene enabling materials and information for refugees. The expected ultimate outcome is reduced suffering, increased and maintained human dignity, and lives saved for refugees and surrounding host communities in Kibondo District, Kigoma Region, Tanzania.
