US embassy cable - 05DARESSALAAM1270

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAR ES SALAAM 001270 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E, AF/C, AND PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, PGOV, EAID, TZ 
SUBJECT: JUNE UPDATE ON REFUGEE SITUATION 
 
REF: DAR ES SALAAM 00686 
 
1. (U) Summary:  In its monthly briefing, UNHCR 
reported that for the first time in decades the 
number of refugees it assisted in Tanzania had 
decreased to less than 400,000 with an estimated 
398,500 refugees currently in the country.  The 
monthly meeting with the joint diplomatic corps and 
NGOs included updates from the World Food Program 
(WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees (UNHCR).  The UNHCR noted that, following 
communal elections in Burundi, voluntary 
repatriations continue to remain steady and may even 
be increasing.  However, WFP reports that because of 
resource shortfalls, the organization currently 
provides refugees with the lowest ration level since 
2003.  Donor country representatives also discussed 
a recent positive rhetorical shift from the 
Government of Tanzania (GOT) regarding refugees. 
End Summary. 
 
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Refugee Movement and Security Update 
------------------------------------ 
 
2.(U) As of 20 June, UNHCR estimates there are 
398,500 refugees in Tanzania.  This number includes 
240,381 Burundians; 155,026 Congolese; 165 Rwandese; 
2,898 Somalis and 2,042 other nationalities.  In 
May, an estimated 2,054 Burundians repatriated 
voluntarily.  This was partially offset, however, by 
485 documented Burundian asylum seekers in Kibondo. 
The Burundians claimed to have fled insecurity in 
Burundi's northern province of Kirundo.  Other May 
arrivals included approximately 400 Rwandan refugees 
who claimed to be running from Tutsis but ostensibly 
are evading the Gacaca courts.  UNHCR representative 
Mia B|low-Olsen does not expect additional refugees 
from Rwanda; the number that has entered matches 
reports from UNHCR-Burundi of those that have not 
returned to their home areas in Rwanda. 
 
3.(U) UNHCR reported two serious security incidences 
in the past month.  One case involved the death of a 
police officer and a refugee in the Mtendeli camp on 
19 June 2005.  UNHCR has requested the Ministry of 
Home Affairs to investigate the attacks and they 
have agreed to do so.  UNHCR indicated these two 
incidents probably do not reflect any new pervasive 
anti-refugee sentiment within the refugee affected 
area, however they have dispatched the UN Security 
advisor from Ghana for further consultation. 
 
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Food Security Remains an Issue 
------------------------------ 
 
4. (U) WFP reports that due to resource shortfalls, 
they currently provide refugees with only 1,252 Kcal 
per day.  This constitutes the lowest ration level 
since 2003.  This shortfall resulted in maize being 
distributed at 75% of the normal level and pulses, 
corn-soya blend (CSB) and vegetable oil being 
distributed at 50% the normal ration.  WFP forecasts 
these shortfalls to continue through July and 
August, at the very least, but they will probably 
last well after that.  Despite this bleak outlook, 
Mie Kataoka, Logistics Officer for WFP, publicly 
acknowledged during the meeting the June 1 in-kind 
contribution from USAID valued at $2,142,700 and 
thanked the USG for its generosity. 
 
5. (U) WFP briefing documents indicate the following 
forecasted pipeline breaks: maize in October; CSB 
and salt in July.  In all, the WFP forecasts a 
shortfall of 16,028 metric tons (MT), the equivalent 
of $7.4 million, up to the end of January 2006.  The 
total committed budget for the 2005-2006 operational 
year is projected to be $29.5 million.  The USG is 
by far the top contributor to the Protracted Relief 
and Recovery Operation (PRRO), with donations valued 
at $17,207,757. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Tanzania Celebrates World Refugee Day 
------------------------------------- 
6. (U) UNHCR commemorated World Refugee Day on June 
20 with activities in Chogo, the Somali refugee 
settlement in Handeni District, and the Tanga 
Region.  As a center-piece of the celebrations, the 
Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Omar Ramadhan Mapuri, 
handed over naturalization certificates to 44 Somali 
refugee families who had resettled; 182 individuals 
in all.  In addition to the ceremony, the new 
citizens received training from UNHCR informing them 
of their rights and obligations as Tanzanian 
citizens. 
 
7. (U) Despite this step forward, the immediate and 
successful assimilation of these newly minted 
citizens is uncertain.  The representative from the 
Canadian High Commission expressed his hope they 
might be allowed to exercise the right to vote in 
the October elections.  While doubtful they would be 
allowed to vote in October, UNHCR was unsure and 
promised to follow-up with regional authorities 
about registering them to vote. 
 
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Shift in Tanzanian Refugee Policy? 
---------------------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) The UNHCR officials thought that the 
Tanzanian Government was easing its previous hard 
line on refugees.   UNHCR representatives reported 
that five regional commissioners attended a training 
workshop on protection.  The training included 
discussions about protection gaps.  The UNHCR urged 
the Tanzanian Government participants to reconsider 
refugee policy, and allow refugees to find ways to 
be self-sufficient.  UNHCR is confident these 
discussions led to a slight relaxation in the 
regional and local government refugee policy, which 
then led to the very public ceremony announcing the 
Somali naturalizations. 
 
9. (SBU) Comment: For now, the Tanzanian government 
does not appear to be in any hurry to pull away the 
welcome mat.  The UNHCR's workshop probably helped 
encourage Tanzania's continued hospitality; the 
steady repatriation of the Burundian refugees 
probably helped even more.  For the first time in 
years, it seems that an end to the Burundian refugee 
crisis is in sight.   The Somali naturalizations are 
another good step forward, marking Tanzania's status 
as a destination for refugee resettlement, as well 
as a country of first asylum.  End comment. 
 
OWEN