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Refugee camps closure dates unchanged-govt
2007-12-28 09:04:12
By Judica Tarimo
The government announced yesterday that all refugee camps would be closed by the end of this financial year, in spite of appeals for extending the June 30, 2008 deadline.
The latest announcement contradicts a statement made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that beating the government’s deadline might be impossible due to the nature of the repatriation process.
In a recent interview, a senior UNHCR official told The Guardian in Dar es Salaam that the process might not allow the repatriation of all refugees and subsequent closing down of camps by June 30, 2008.
``Remember, this is voluntary process. It is not realistic to state that there would be zero refugees by end of the ultimatum. It sounds more realistic to say that there would be one camp for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) refugees and one for Burundian refugees by the end of 2008,`` said UNHCR External Public Relations Officer, Eveline Wolfcarius.
On the contrary, Home Affairs Minister Joseph Mungai told a news conference yesterday that all refugee camps would be closed by June 30, this year.
``We expect to start with closure of Lukole and Nduta camps located in Ngara and Kibondo Districts next January as agreed during the tripartite (Burundi, Tanzania governments and UNHCR) meeting in Bujumbura on December 3, this year,`` Mungai said.
``We will thereafter move to other camps. Our main objective must be realized within the agreed time-frame,`` he said, without discussing the fate of DRC refugees who still face security threats at home.
He, however, said Burundi authorities had already submitted a written proposal to the Tanzanian government asking for extension of the deadline to November, 2008.
``This cannot be decided by my ministry. Their proposal will be presented to the cabinet for scrutiny and endorsement. It is too early to say anything today,`` said Mungai.
Regarding the plight of DRC refugees, the minister said: `I am not in a position to comment anything. I can simply say that that the DRC government has not submitted any application for the extension of deadline.``
Observers say the DRC refugees are likely to suffer because of the fragile political climate at home.
The repatriation of Burundian refugees is highly promoted by both the tripartite partners and Greats Lakes leaders.
President Jakaya Kikwete has pledged to facilitate a voluntary transfer of all Burundian refugees by the end of fiscal year 2007/08.
At the moment, regional leaders and tripartite partners are implementing the repatriation process through three key strategies—integration, repatriation and resettlement of refugees to other countries—US, Canada, Australia and others.
Many Burundian refugees—mostly those living in residential areas— according to Mungai, have opted for integration and already submitted their applications for Tanzanian citizenship.
``We are scrutinizing their applications before integrating them officially into our society. This will be done in accordance with the existing laws of the land,`` he said.
Already, six refugees` camps out of 11 have been closed down this year.
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