Continued upsurge in refugee numbers expected

Given the current political and security climate in DRC and Burundi, "substantial numbers of Congolese and Burundi refugees will continue to arrive in Tanzania," UNHCR's mid-year report stated. In response, UNHCR has amended its plans for the remainder of the year to include between 278,000 and 300,000 Burundian refugees and some 160,000 Congolese. The report stated that, while US $2.4 million had been approved from its emergency fund, "the activation of contingency sites and the costs related to any new arrivals will require additional funding." While UNHCR had hoped to promote the voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees this year, the upsurge in rebel attacks in Burundi had created outflows of refugees that outnumbered the few Burundians repatriated to relatively stable areas - the majority of them awaiting a peace agreement from the Arusha talks before they will return, it said.