Nduta (Tanzania) : two Burundian refugees killed in a road accident, their families demand compensation

SOS Médias Burundi

Nduta, July 2, 2025 – A tragic accident occurred on Monday in the Nduta refugee camp, located in Kibondo District, northwest Tanzania. A truck belonging to a Chinese road construction agency hit a group of Burundian refugees, killing two people and injuring several others.

The accident occurred on the section of the road that crosses the camp, between zones 4 and 6. According to witnesses, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which drove straight into the crowd.

“The driver lost control of the truck; he hit the refugees without being able to stop,” said an eyewitness, still in shock.

The provisional death toll indicates that two Burundian refugees died on the spot and several others were injured, including about ten in critical condition. The most seriously injured were transferred to the Kibondo District Referral Hospital for appropriate treatment.

According to initial investigations conducted by the Tanzanian police, the accident was caused by a fault in the truck’s braking system.

The Chinese agency in charge of rehabilitation work on the road between Kasulu and Kibondo, towards the Burundi-Tanzania border, announced that it will cover all hospitalization costs as well as funeral expenses for the victims.

But the families of the two deceased refugees are demanding more. They are demanding compensation, emphasizing that the deceased were the pillars of their households. “These are not just two people we lost. They were fathers who provided for their families. We demand reparations,” they declared.

Residents of the Nduta camp, which is home to more than 58,000 Burundian refugees, are denouncing a recurring problem. “This isn’t the first time this road has claimed lives. Every month, we see accidents in this overcrowded camp,” one of them complains.

Refugees are calling on Tanzanian authorities and partners to install speed bumps on this section to reduce road speeds and prevent further tragedies. They are stressing the urgent need to implement safety measures adapted to the large number of pedestrians in this area.

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