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REFUGEES
OR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
The
Bishop of Makamba Diocese has attended the FECCLAHA
Executive Committee and the General Assembly in Gulu (
Northern Uganda
) from September 12th - 16th,
where he has met different personalities from the Great
Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa. During the
meetings, they have exchanged stories concerning the
refugees and returnees formerly settled in
Tanzania
. The General Secretary of the Christian Council of
Tanzania
has reported that most of the refugees who were born in
Tanzania
(their parents fleet
Burundi
in 1972) don’t hold the refugees status as long as
they are not living in the refugee camps. The Government
of Tanzania, he added, consider them as illegal
immigrants. When they organise a spontaneous
repatriation, the
Tanzania
police doesn’t allow them to bring their belongings
with them. One of the repatriates met in Makamba on
September 6th has this to say:
“It is unbelievable
that some people don’t care with the pains of others.
Though empty handed, at least I’m back at home.”
Since
the ceasefire agreement between the Government of
Burundi and FNL-Palipehutu was recently signed, the
refugees come back in big numbers but with fewer
belongings.
It
is a challenge to the Diocese of Makamba which hosts
many repatriates who need not only salt and soap but
also blankets and shelter. Pray with us that God may
intervene through generous people
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