75190 Africa 13/06/02 16:07 Side 136 United Republic of Tanzania Main Objectives asylum-seekers by providing tangible benefits to the local population in areas affected by the Ensure the well-being of refugees by providing protracted presence of refugees; continue to sup- essential assistance and services and support their port the local integration of those refugees whom voluntary repatriation; maintain adequate emer- the government has allowed to settle permanently. gency preparedness to respond to major refugee movements; promote refugee law and help the Impact Tanzanian authorities provide security in the refugee camps while ensuring that they retain an exclusive- • Delays in the implementation of a number ly civilian and humanitarian character and that of measures foreseen in the peace agreement they accommodate only those persons entitled to signed in Arusha, Tanzania, in August 2000 international protection; ensure a comprehensive meant that full-scale care and maintenance approach to sexual and gender-based violence activities had to be continued beyond the through preventive measures and provide legal, originally foreseen timeframe, and for an even medical and psycho-social support for the victims; larger caseload than originally anticipated. Pro- maintain the support and goodwill of the Tanzan- viding DRC Congolese and Rwandan refugees ian government and people towards refugees and with material assistance proceeded as planned 136 – UNHCR Global Report 2001 75190 Africa 13/06/02 16:07 Side 137 whilst local integration was pursued for the The long-term hosting of almost one million refugees Somali refugees. has strained the infrastructure in western Tanzania. • UNHCR ensured the provision of protection and This was further compounded by the extreme assistance to approximately 500,000 refugees in poverty of the refugee-hosting districts. Further- 2001. Over 6,800 refugees were assisted to volun- more, the presence of refugees contributes to the tarily repatriate, mainly to Rwanda, and 534 were damage of the environment, produces competition resettled. Assistance with security in the refugee for scarce resources and has led to increasing vio- camps helped preserve their civilian and humani- lence between locals and refugees. The backdrop of tarian nature. Funding constraints, aggravated declining national and international support has by food shortages, had a negative impact on a meant that assistance activities have been severely number of sectors. Lack of funding also led to the compromised. curtailment of assistance to Tanzanian nationals residing near to camp areas. Constraints of Tanzania United Republic The continuing uncertainty regarding the future of Working Environment Burundi creates a difficult environment for securing the Government’s agreement on crucial points of The Context refugee policy, in particular, those involving greater refugee participation, self-reliance and freedom. A As in previous years, 2001 saw an initial sense of major constraint remains the Government’s insis- optimism surrounding the peace processes in the tence that new Burundi refugee arrivals in the Great Lakes Region. This proved to be short-lived Kigoma Region cannot be transferred to the Kagera and, conflicts continued throughout the year, hin- Region, where spare capacity exists, but should dering voluntary repatriation and causing continued instead be accommodated in the Rukwa Region refugee influxes into Tanzania. Nevertheless, the which is relatively inaccessible in terms of logistics. assisted refugee population declined from 511,000 Because of their proximity to border areas, refugees at the end of the year 2000 to 498,000 as of December are exposed to armed conflicts in neighbouring 2001. This was mainly due to the re-registration countries and faced threats to their physical safety in exercise, which reflected that the number of persons and outside the camps. Refugee women and child- of concern to the Office was reduced by some 12 ren, in particular, have been victims of sexual vio- per cent. Limited repatriation has meant the overall lence, both within their own communities and whilst objectives of the programme remain unchanged. venturing into remote areas in search of firewood. Persons of Concern Funding Total Of whom Per cent Per cent Main Origin/ in Country UNHCR Female under 18 Type of Population assisted Budgetary restrictions imposed Burundi (Refugees) 521,200 351,200 51 56 on field offices at the beginning DRC (Refugees) 117,500 117,500 51 57 of the year forced the office to Rwanda (Refugees) 24,200 24,200 48 53 reduce implementing partners’ Rwanda (Asylum-seekers) 21,200 21,200 48 53 budgets by 20 per cent. Whilst all Somalia (Refugees) 3,400 3,400 53 62 life-sustaining activities were Kenya (Returnees) 2,000 990 32 - implemented and all minimum standards were maintained, especially under the health and Income and Expenditure (USD) water sectors, some activities Annual Programme Budget and Trust Funds such as road repair and the Revised Income from Other Funds Total Funds Total Budget Contributions1 Available2 Available Expenditure replacement of trucks, vehicles, AB & TF 30,507,550 24,012,831 4,952,714 28,965,545 28,873,088 water equipment, health educa- 1 Includes income from contributions restricted at the country level. tion materials, emergency drugs, 2 Includes allocations by UNHCR from unearmarked or broadly earmarked contributions, opening balance etc., were curtailed. Budgets for and adjustments. The above figures do not include costs at Headquarters. basic items such as fuel, soap UNHCR Global Report 2001 – 137 75190 Africa 13/06/02 16:07 Side 138 and sanitary materials, were reduced to less than a Kigoma, 19 Rwandese in Rwanda whilst 19 Con- twelve months’ supply and the quantity for distri- golese children await cross-border reunification. In bution in some cases was halved. the Lukole camps in Ngara, 515 refugee leaders and 102 other influential people participated in 28 differ- ent roundtable discussions on the plight of children. Achievements and Impact Over 20,000 copies of a Kirundi document on child rights were distributed to the refugee community. United Republic Protection and Solutions UNICEF assisted in the training of social workers of Tanzania in foster-parenting, child psychology and prevention Refugees residing outside designated refugee of child recruitment into the military. During the camps were at risk of being rounded up by the reporting period, with the help of partner organisa- regional authorities. Many, who had been residing tions, UNHCR embarked on a programme of sports in Tanzania for decades, were reportedly given the and games for the disadvantaged. The three-year option of returning to a refugee camp or repatriating plan is to be implemented in all camps in Tanzania. to their country of origin. Since UNHCR was not present during these round-ups the Office was There was a positive change towards gender main- unable to verify whether all cases were systemati- streaming with remarkable support from men. cally given such an option. Leadership positions in the camp were equally dis- tributed between women and men. Five refugee Activities to gradually empower refugee women in women participated in the Nairobi Women’s Consul- Tanzania continued in 2001. Standardised reporting tation meeting. Two women represented Tanzania protocols were revised for sexual and gender- in the Geneva dialogue in June 2001. based violence (SGBV) and functioned effectively in 2001. In many cases the victims of SGBV were Skills-based training for vulnerable groups took minors, even young girls. place but restrictive asylum laws prevented all but limited income-generation activity. Domestic violence rose in 2001 with 2,469 cases. There were also reports of 293 cases of rape in and Crop Production: Despite a restrictive government around refugee camps. UNHCR continued discus- policy on land, UNHCR’s goal remained that of sions with the Refugee Services Department assisting refugees in supplementing their food bas- regarding the many shortcomings of the Refugee ket, increasing their purchasing power and improv- Act, 1998. Although progress had been made on ing their general standard of living. Transmissions access to asylum procedures many areas have not by Radio Kwizera encouraged refugees to better yet been addressed. The National Eligibility Com- utilise their small plots for maximum yields. mittee (NEC) needs further structural review and Results were positive: 27,000 kilos of maize and possibly, technical support. 599,625 kilos of beans were cultivated. Elsewhere in Kagera, informal environmental education contin- Over 2,000 Tanzanians from the island of Pemba ued with over 22,000 fuel-efficient stoves being (Zanzibar) fled to Shimoni, Kenya following inter- constructed throughout the year. Flood control vention by security forces to stop a political opposi- contour lines were constructed in Nduta and Mten- tion demonstration. Some 900 persons were repa- deli. Radio Kwizera also taught good environment triated by UNHCR upon receiving guarantees by control practices in the Kibondo area and else- the Government of Tanzania that they would not where. be prosecuted. The remaining 1,100 repatriated spontaneously. Domestic Needs/Household Support: Notwith- standing funding constraints, the provision of Activities and Assistance essential domestic supplies to new arrivals was generally maintained. Distribution of soap and Community Services: Unaccompanied minors sanitary materials was an exception but