Tanzanian authorities have raised concerns over lack of funding to take care of the increasing number of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), calling for international development partners to support people living in refugee camps.
According to Sudi Mwakibasi, director of refugee services at the Ministry of Home Affairs, the East African nation urgently needs financial support to help the refugees in the Nyarugusu camp in the western province of Kigoma.
In May, the WFP, which provides monthly in-kind food assistance to people living in the country's refugee camps, decided to reduce food rations "at a time of increased needs" due to a critical funding gap.
"We urgently need $21 million to provide food assistance to more than 200,000 refugees for the next six months and avoid implementing deeper cuts as hunger bites in refugee camps in Tanzania," said Sarah Gordon - Gibson, WFP’s country director in Tanzania.
It was reported that the pace of the voluntary return of refugees to their respective countries has also been hampered by a lack of funding. Those who agree to return are usually provided with transportation and a resettlement allowance.
Earlier, the UNHCR said it needed at least $700 million to support its programs in Tanzania, a regular recipient of refugees fleeing conflict in neighboring states.
The humanitarian crisis and insecurity in the DRC has been caused by armed groups in the eastern part of the country. The DRC is experiencing the worst displacement crisis in Africa, with more than 6.3 million people displaced throughout the country. Between September 2022 and January 2023, hundreds of them entered Tanzania by canoe through Lake Tanganyika and the Kigoma region, seeking refuge.