WFP assists almost 530,000 refugees in July

Over 520,000 refugees in Ngara, Kasulu, Kibondo and Lugufu refugee camps received in the region of 85 percent of fortnightly food rations in the second half of July, WFP reported on Friday. Another 5,748 extremely vulnerable persons were given full rations, as the WFP distributed 3,425 mt of food to 529,600 people, it said. In addition, the agency distributed 68 mt of food to 17,047 malnourished refugees admitted in various health centres, therapeutic feeding centres and supplementary feeding centres, it added. The repatriation of Burundian refugees was temporary suspended due to insecurity in Burundi, but 70 Rwandese were voluntarily repatriated to Rwanda during the second half of July, bringing the total number of Rwandese assisted in returning home since the beginning of the year to 1,787, WFP stated. Meanwhile, 1,353 new refugees arrived in Kigoma and Ngara Districts from Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC and Rwanda during the same period.

A few months ago, WFP played down reports in the Tanzania media of hungry refugees marauding in the community and taking food by force in Kibondo District, Kigoma. Officials said that refugees had been giving a ration of about 80 percent since December 2000 (with a full ration to vulnerable groups) and that nutrition surveys gave no suggestion of an escalating malnutrition situation in the camps. The agency said it planned to return to full rations as soon as the pipeline situation allowed, but was also keen on a full re-registration of all refugees because the original caseload for the refugee operation in Tanzania was for 375,000 Burundians and Congolese, but the agency was now offering assistance to almost 530,000 refugees.