US NGOs concerned over voluntary repatriation

A group of 10 American NGOs have expressed concern over the voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees from Tanzania "at this time". In a statement issued on Tuesday for the attention of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the US government, the group (which includes refugee aid, resettlement and protection agencies) said: "Current conditions in Burundi do not appear conducive for refugee return." This was, it said, because opposing parties had not agreed to a ceasefire; the political climate in Burundi appeared tense; the army remained mono-ethnically Tutsi; conflict might arise when returnees tried to regain their land; and repatriates might be obliged to live in existing regroupment camps if conditions in their home areas were insecure. Since March, the UNHCR has aided the voluntary repatriation of at least 5,000 refugees, and registered at least another60,000 for future transfer. Given this, and the concerns over repatriation at this time, the NGOs recommended that the UNHCR make a "concerted effort" to ensure that refugees were aware that they were under no obligation to go home; that they be supplied with relevant information to help them decide about returning; and that those who then wanted to go home be aided to return only to areas where UNHCR could monitor their protection. Other recommendations were that the Tanzanian government "cease placing political and psychological pressure" on the refugees to return; that the UNHCR investigate the extent, if any, of military activity in the camps in Tanzania; that the Burundi government make "every effort" to deal with the estimated one million Burundians internally displaced before attempting to bring back tens of thousands of refugees; that the international community ensure that the Tanzanian government did not unduely suffer financially as a result of helping the refugees; and that the international community ensure its readiness to provide prompt and adequate funding for Burundi's reconstruction. [For the full statement visit click here]