United Republic of Tanzania

2012 UNHCR country operations profile - United Republic of Tanzania

Working environment

The context

The United Republic of Tanzania has been an asylum country for more than four decades, during which it has hosted one of the largest refugee populations in Africa. The Government of Tanzania has also searched actively for solutions for refugees within its territory. In April 2010, it took the unprecedented decision to naturalize more than 162,000 Burundian refugees who had been living in the so-called Old Settlements in the north-west of the country since 1972. However, the Government has yet to give the go-ahead to the relocation and integration exercise required to formalize these refugees' naturalization as their naturalization certificates will only be issued to them upon relocation

Tanzania has remained peaceful and stable while most of its neighbours have suffered civil conflicts. The Government wants to see the end of the refugee situation in the country and the closure of the remaining two refugee camps. Of these, Mtabila Camp, which hosts mainly Burundian refugees, is expected to close by the end of 2012. The status of Nyaragusu Camp, where most of the residents are refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), will be reviewed in 2012. The Tanzanian Government has agreed to wait for the outcome of the elections in the DRC in November 2011 before deciding whether to recommend voluntary repatriation for DRC refugees or not.

Meanwhile, Tanzania maintains an encampment policy which requires all refugees to live in designated areas. The number of individuals arriving in mixed migration flows has risen sharply, but access to asylum is declining as the Government is growing reluctant to process new asylum applications.

The conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in 2010, has established a framework for cooperation in areas of common concern, such as the protection of forcibly displaced people, immigration regulations and refugee movements.

The needs

The number of refugees in Tanzania is decreasing, yet protection and assistance needs among those that remain are high. The voluntary repatriation of Burundian and DRC refugees will be promoted and facilitated in 2012, while those refugees who remain in the country will be protected and assisted. The Government has made it clear that naturalization is not possible for Burundian refugees who arrived in the 1990s and later. UNHCR will need to maintain a small resettlement capacity to provide solutions for a small number of refugees.

In order to complete the naturalization process and to enable them to exercise their full rights as citizens, the newly naturalized Tanzanians will need help to relocate in Tanzania and integrate locally. There is also the need to look for a durable solution for some 6,000 Burundian refugees residing in the Old Settlements who have not been accepted for naturalization, as well as the estimated 22,000 Burundians of the 1972 group living in villages in the Kigoma region.

In light of the increasing influx of irregular migrants, UNHCR will also assist the Government in responding to mixed migration movements in a manner consistent with international law.

Main objectives and targets for 2012

Favourable protection environment

Access to the territory is improved and the risk of refoulement is reduced.

• All cases of threatened refoulement are resolved.

Basic needs and essential services

The health status of the population of concern improves.

• The crude mortality rate among children under five years of age is brought down to less than 1 per cent.

The population has optimal access to education.

• All children of concern aged between six and 11 are enrolled in primary education. This will include some 20,000 refugees and 40,000 new citizens.

Durable solutions

The potential for voluntary return is realized.

• 15,000 Burundian and 15,000 refugees from DRC are assisted to repatriate.

The potential for integration is realized.

• Around 50 per cent of those opting for local integration are able to do so. Some 110,000 new citizens are relocated and are assisted to integrate locally.

Strategy and activities

In Tanzania, UNHCR's strategy and activities concern three main areas.

Local integration of Burundian refugees and newly naturalized Tanzanians

Assisting towards the relocation and integration of some 162,000 new citizens as well as around 16,000 recently born children for whom naturalization is pending will be a priority for UNHCR. Key activities will include the provision of grants to individuals to assist with the initial relocation, support in identifying land for settlement, and initiatives in host communities to facilitate a positive reception of the new citizens.

UNHCR will also support quick-impact education, health and water projects in selected host communities. It will play a catalytic role in mobilizing resources to support longer-term needs in these communities by working closely with the Government, UN agencies and other development actors.

The Government of Tanzania and UNHCR will work together to find a durable solution for the approximately 6,000 Burundian refugees in the Old Settlements who were either rejected or did not participate in the initial exercise, as well as more than 22,000 Burundian refugees who fled in 1972 and live in villages in the Kigoma region.

Protection and solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers in camps

UNHCR will pursue durable solutions, particularly voluntary repatriation, and will use resettlement as a protection tool in very specific circumstances. Basic assistance and protection standards will be maintained in Nyaragusu - the one refugee camp in Tanzania expected to remain open in 2012-with particular attention to vulnerable refugees. Programmes to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence will be implemented.

Given the improved conditions in Burundi, it is expected that the Burundian refugees deemed not to be in need of continuing international protection will return home in 2012. The relatively small number of Burundian refugees who may remain will be transferred to an alternative site awaiting alternative durable solutions when Mtabila camp closes. UNHCR will make provision for a short extension of the camp's life beyond the closure date in order to wind down activities properly and completely.

It is anticipated that refugees from the DRC will determine in 2012 whether to opt for repatriation or remain in Tanzania, according to stability in their country.

Protection in mixed migration flows and streamlining asylum policies within the framework of the EAC

The Government will be assisted to build a fair and efficient asylum system consistent with international standards, and open to people of concern in mixed migratory movements who are at risk of refoulement. Key activities will include building the capacity of border officials, border monitoring and detention visits, advocacy for access to asylum procedures and the search for durable solutions for individuals of concern to UNHCR. Through advocacy with the EAC, UNHCR will continue to strengthen regional cooperation in order to develop asylum and migration procedures, in accordance with international law.

Constraints

The Government is looking at ways to quickly end the refugee situation in Tanzania. This poses a major challenge for UNHCR as it strives to ensure that full access to protection and assistance is afforded both to refugees and to asylum-seekers. The task would be especially difficult should conditions in Burundi or the DRC deteriorate, generating new flows of asylum-seekers and reducing the chances of voluntary repatriation by refugees already in Tanzania. Another challenge is the strong reluctance among many refugees to return to their countries of origin, despite the relative improvement in conditions.

The delay in the relocation exercise for more than 162,000 former Burundian refugees is generating considerable unease among the new citizens. It could also have a negative impact on the funding commitment by the international community, and UNHCR's capacity to maintain operational readiness to support the relocation and integration exercise once it commences.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

UNHCR's main partner continues to be the Refugee Affairs and Immigration Department within the Ministry of Home Affairs. In the area of local integration, the primary counterpart is the Prime Minister's Office, specifically the Regional Administration and Local Government section. Authorities at the regional, district and village levels, as well as development actors (including NGOs and UN Agencies) will be engaged to assist the local integration of the new citizens.

As the lead agency of the Refugee Programme Working Group under the governance cluster of the UN Development Assistance Plan, UNHCR will provide strategic leadership and direction on international protection and assistance to refugees, local integration of the new citizens, and the establishment and strengthening of efficient and fair asylum and migration systems, in line with international norms.

Financial information

The budget for the refugees in camps in north-west Tanzania continues to decrease, in line with the evolution of the situation there. Nevertheless, a budget of USD 21.4 million is requested for 2012 given the high number of voluntary repatriation movements expected, as well as costs linked to the closure of Mtabila Camp. A larger reduction can be expected for 2013, when the number of refugees is expected to decline sharply.

On the other hand, the local-integration budget remains substantial at USD 58.5 million, since most of the relocation and initial integration initiatives for new Tanzanian citizens will take place in 2012. Some 110,000 of the 162,000 new citizens are expected to move during the year, requiring major investments in relocation assistance, land allocation, sensitization campaigns and infrastructure improvements in host communities.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2012-2013