Visit to a transit camp near to the border between Burundi and
Tanzania - Aug. 06 - Diocese of Muyinga
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Optimism and the peace agreement between the FNL and the
Government of Burundi are increasingly fuelling the desire of
many refugees to return to Burundi from camps in neighbouring
countries where they had been living for many years in order to
escape the long civil wars in Burundi |
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Accompanied by the Bishop of Muyinga, the Rt. Rev. Eraste
Bigirimana, two members of the Provincial office staff went to
visit a transit camp that is being established by the Red Cross
and Burundian government to receive refugees who are being sent
back to Burundi from camps in Tanzania. The capacity of the camp
is 120 people. Security is provided by the police. The
government is providing food. Most of the people passing through
are women and children. People should be in the camp 2 days but
many had been there for several weeks or months waiting for
someone to come from their commune to repatriate them so that
they can begin the long road back to reintegration into their
communities and families. |
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At the time of the visit the perimeter fence was still under
reconstruction. Dormitory tents, toilets, and a shaded kitchen
area were already in place. Straw covered the ground inside the
dormitory tents - rush mats were provided for sleeping. The
standard of hygiene appeared to be good. The long-drop toilets
were properly screened affording some privacy. |
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There were 46 people there - 24 children and 15 women and 7
men. The children were playing, as children do, in the
blistering heat, running barefoot over the dry, dusty ground
that hints once more of impending drought. Signs of
malnourishment and other illnesses were evident. The few
possessions brought with them could be seen bundled up against
the side of the tents. Some of the refugees returned with
nothing but the clothes they were wearing.
Apart from cooking food - cooked in a pot balanced on three
stones with charcoal set between them - and nursing babies there
appeared to be little else to do but wait.
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One woman told her story. She had lived in a refugee camp in
Tanzania for 3 years. Without warning she was called by the
police to the authorities. She went with her husband and
children. She was told to get onto a lorry. She asked to go back
and get her possessions but was forced to proceed. The lorry
left immediately and transported her to the Red Cross transit
camp just inside Burundi. Now she found herself with only the
clothes she was wearing - with no cooking pot, blanket or
mattress, only straw and a rush mat to rest on inside a large
dormitory tent with many other families. She said that she was
one of the fortunate ones. Others had been separated from family
members and knew nothing of their whereabouts.
According to the Red Cross Administrator the main problem
that they face is that, because it is a transit camp, the World
Food Programme does not distribute food. Although the Government
provides food, no cooking pots are available except those
brought by returnees.
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Many challenges face the authorities in Burundi. The refugees
have to be registered. They need support to reach, and be
reintegrated into, families and communities. Some have long
distances to walk - anything from 4 - 30 km - carrying any
possessions they have been able to bring back with them. There
are the immediate needs of food, water, and shelter - especially
with the rainy season about to start. Medical services in the
country are already stretched and many of the returnees need
medical attention. The children need to be in school but most
classrooms are already packed beyond capacity with an acute
shortage of teaching staff and resources. Many return to find
their homes destroyed and their land sold or occupied by others.
Ensuing disputes over land rights can be difficult and costly -
a serious issue for people who are mostly subsistence farmers.
On reaching their home areas they may be forced to stay with
relatives and friends.
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The diocese of Muyinga, along with other dioceses, is looking
at ways it can support and welcome returnees. It is a big
challenge for the Anglican Church of Burundi as not only
practical assistance is needed but also emotional and spiritual
help especially as the returnees go through the process of
repatriation and reintegration.
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News and information about the EAB can now be found at
http://www.anglicanburundi.org/
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