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Refugee influx increases

More than 400 people a day are now arriving in western Tanzania after fleeing violence and forced displacement in southern Burundi, UNHCR said on Tuesday. Between 1-8 November, UNHCR registered 4,150 new arrivals in Kigoma, Kasulu, Kibondo and Ngara, UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski said. More than 7,000 Burundi refugees crossed to the same areas during October, he said. Refugees are arriving from the provinces of Makamba, Rutana, Gitega and Kirundo and report continuing fighting between rebels and government forces. They have also told UNHCR staff that the government had stepped up efforts to regroup civilians in makeshift sites without adequate shelter or supplies, Janowski added. Tanzania currently hosts around 275,000 Burundi refugees.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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