“Huge” numbers of DRC refugees

UNHCR on Wednesday said conflict in eastern DRC, particularly in South Kivu, had caused “huge numbers” of people to flee into western Tanzania in the last few days. The refugee influx, which started in August 1998, was steadily increasing, with 2,167 new arrivals registered on Tuesday alone, a UNHCR official in Dar es Salaam told IRIN. The new arrivals were generally in good health. The official said UNHCR was “adequately prepared but there is need for additional sites.” There are currently some 39,000-40,000 Congolese refugees in Nyarugusu and another 55,000 at a camp at Lugufu, which is now full. The official said UNHCR “should be able to accommodate another 10-15,000 new arrivals in the Nyarugusu camp, or possibly expand it cater for an additional number pending the identification and designation of a third site by the government.” Meanwhile, UNHCR statistics for the month of May received by IRIN on Wednesday showed that Tanzania was hosting a total of 369,177 refugees from Burundi, DRC, Rwanda and Somalia.