Nduta (Tanzania) : several worrying cases of death

The Nduta camp in Tanzania has recorded about ten deaths in less than a week. The latest is that of the substitute representative of the representative committee of Burundian refugees in this camp. She died in the delivery room at the same time as her newborn. The concern is growing among refugees.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Evelyne Nimpaye, 35 years old, had been elected by her compatriots to carry their voices, because she was respected for her defense of refugees’ rights. She worked with her colleague, a man, to ensure that all refugees were represented.

At the beginning of this week, she went to the hospital for her third delivery. The camp’s medical services noted some complications. She was transferred to the Kibondo district referral hospital (where the Nduta camp is located).

She and her newborn could not have the chance to survive after a caesarean operation followed by heavy bleeding according to a medical source. She leaves behind a husband and two children.

Refugees mourn the death of a woman who fought, who was an activist and defender of their rights.

Several cases of mortality that are worrying…

At her funeral on Thursday, refugees noticed that the cemetery was saturated, especially with fresh graves. As a result, one of the local officials decided to do a quick little investigation. Results were overwhelming.

“12 deaths in four days, from Monday to Thursday of this week!!”, we learned. “Five refugees were buried on Wednesday”, learned the community leader who even checked the numbering of the graves in the cemetery.

A source within the MSF (Doctors Without Borders) hospital confirms the facts.

“Here, in the emergency room, we recorded three cases of mortality in a single night this week from chronic diseases such as hypertension and asthma,” our source specifies.

In addition to those who die in hospitals, there are a large number of refugees who die in their homes before reaching health facilities, says the community leader, who is also supported by several refugees.

“Unbelievable, unacceptable, … there must be serious causes,” exclaim refugees.

Possible motives …

First, the crucial factor is the inexperience of NGOs that deal with the health component. MTI (Medical Team International) which replaced MSF in the management of cases of chronic diseases and IRC (International Refugee Committee) are singled out.

“Their employees are less experienced, they do not have adequate and suitable equipment, they do not monitor the evolution of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma”, explains a medical officer at the Nduta camp who also regrets that hospitals close very early, at 4 p.m. “This means that cases admitted during the night do not receive treatment until the next day”, he says.

The other element is the closure of health centers.

“Currently, the camp has three health facilities because the other three have been closed. It is really impossible for a population of more than 58,000 people to find adequate and appropriate care in these conditions”, estimate medical volunteers as well as Burundian refugees themselves.

A paradoxical fact noted by a medical source : cases of chronic diseases have significantly decreased since the beginning of this year.

“Unfortunately, they did not recover!! Rather, they died and were buried!!”, she murmurs bitterly.

Medical sources, local officials and refugees are calling for help. They are calling on the UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies to “save human lives in danger”.

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Burial of Burundian refugee Evelyne Nimpaye at the Nduta camp in Tanzania, October 10, 2024 (SOS Médias Burundi)