Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, 15 April 2019 – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomed a generous contribution of £5 million (USD 6,385,696) from the UK Government through its Department for International Development (DFID). This financial contribution will support more than 300,000 refugees and asylum-seekers hosted the Kigoma region in northwestern Tanzania.
The donation will help ensure continued access to much-needed services including health, education and water and sanitation for Burundian and Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers. Funds will also be used to provide access to alternative energy sources and to support environmental initiatives in the refugee hosting region.
“This additional funding from the UK Government represents part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the Government of Tanzania host refugees seeking refuge due to instability in neighboring countries,” stated Beth Arthy, Head of UK DFID Tanzania. “Alongside this support, we continue to invest significantly in the Kigoma region, supporting host community schools, infrastructure and the development of businesses in the region, as well as supporting refugees reintegrate back into Burundi should they choose to return.”
UNHCR’s Representative in Tanzania, Chansa Kapaya, praised UK Government’s collaboration with UNHCR, noting, “The allocated funds will greatly support UNHCR’s effort in responding to protection and basic needs of 300,000 refugee and asylum-seekers in Tanzania in 2019. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the government of the United Kingdom for its continued support to UNHCR, especially the Tanzania operation.”
UNHCR and UK DFID have a long track record of cooperation in support of refugees in Tanzania. Since 2015, the UK Government through DFID has contributed USD 43,394,745 to support refugees, asylum-seekers and host communities in Tanzania through its humanitarian funding, with additional support to the Kigoma region provided through longer term development programmes.
Tanzania hosts more than 300,000 refugees and other persons of concern in the three refugee camps in the Kigoma region. 74% of the refugees are from Burundi and 26% are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries.