UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres left Dar Es Salaam late Monday after meeting Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and launching a landmark two-year programme to end one of the world’s most protracted refugee situations.
The exile of some 218.000 Burundians who fled their country in 1972.
The Burundian refugees have been living in three settlements in western Tanzania and, during Monday’s meeting, Kikwete reiterated his government’s commitment to finding durable solutions for them through voluntary repatriation and local integration.
IKKE KUN EN OPGAVE FOR TANZANIA
Guterres launched the new programme stressing that its success depends on strong donor support for the Tanzanian government.
– It is the moment for the international community to show solidarity with the government and people of Tanzania to solve the long-standing problem of Burundian refugees from 1972, the High Commissioner said on Sunday before sending off a first group of 255 refugees, who were heading by train to the port of Kigoma and thence by road to Burundi.
ROLLEMODEL FOR LIGNENDE SITUATIONER
He added that the programme, especially its local integration component, could become a “showcase” for other nations faced with protracted refugee situations.
This is one of UNHCR’s most important operations in Africa this year, which will see the agency assist the return of more than 46.000 Burundian refugees and locally integrate a further 172.000.
The latter will include an estimated 76.000 aged over 18 years and eligible to register and apply for citizenship in accordance with Tanzanian laws, rules and procedures.
Kilde: www.unhcr.org
