JUNE UPDATE ON REFUGEE SITUATION

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
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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
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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.

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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