Nyarugusu (Tanzania): several losses caused by torrential rains

A thunderstom have hit the Nyarugusu camp since last Tuesday. The refugees deplore a lot of losses including destroyed houses and damaged public infrastructures. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Zone 9 was the most affected with several houses, schools and churches which have collapsed. Many households are homeless.

“[….] Several refugees spend their nights outside. Others are hosted by their neighbors whose houses have not been seriously affected”, say refugees in Nyarugusu. The victims of these torrential rains have been installed in the reception center for new arrivals.

The victims are Burundians and Congolese and are asking for emergency aid and the reconstruction of their homes.

Despair of the Burundians

“We know that for the Congolese, humanitarian aid will be quick while we will be told to go home to find our help there!”, speculate Burundian refugees who ironically indicate that at least there was “a common misfortune shared between Burundians and Congolese”.

“It is also a test, we will see how the UNHCR and the administration will discriminate against some to cherish others. We will then be able to conclude on their dishonesty, but let us hope that this does not happen”, they suggest.

Disastrous situation in the Burundian part

According to the Burundian refugees account to SOS Médias Burundi ” a simple rain is enough for our shelters to be destroyed”. They explain the houses built in the Burundian part are very old, in poor condition.

“Unfortunately, the camp administration refused to give us permission to restore our homes,” refugees lament.

Nyarugusu camp, located in the Kigoma region in northwestern Tanzania not far from the border with Burundi, has more than 110,000 refugees, including more than 50,000 Burundians.