Nduta (Tanzania): Demolition of houses for the slightest fault of refugees

Burundian refugees denounce a practice that has become commonplace: the demolition of houses if the occupants are accused of any fault. Several houses have already been destroyed and owners do not know who to turn to. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

In Nduta, “an improvised punishment” seems to be included in “the penal code” that governs this large Burundian refugee camp in Tanzania. If a refugee commits the slightest fault, his house is directly demolished by civilian guards and police officers under the orders of the camp administration.

“Those who are suspected of banditry, theft, prolonged absence from the camp, illicit trade, drunkenness, …, and therefore any suspect is inflicted with the same punishment: his house is publicly demolished”, says a local leader from zone V in the Nduta camp.

Worse still, he adds, “Even if it is the head of the family or another member of the household who is at fault, the whole family is thrown out and their house is destroyed. This is really unacceptable when responsibility should at least be personal ,” he denounces.

He has already counted dozens of houses demolished in his area alone in less than six months. And if we total up in this area, “it is a hundred refugees who are victims,” ​​he indicates.

Refugees believe that this is another form of intimidation and forcing voluntary repatriation.

“The occupants of a demolished house must choose between staying with a neighbor and returning to the country. And the second option is most often chosen. So, they are forced to make a decision in haste and against their will. Still others leave the country to head for other neighboring countries like Kenya, Uganda or Zambia,” explain residents of Nduta.

These Burundians do not deny that there are culprits, criminals or suspects who are in conflict with the law. But they find that these are the penal code in force in Tanzania and disciplinary measures should be applied.

They demand that the administration reconsider this practice which has been strongly criticized. And to wonder why the UNHCR is not doing anything when “housing is among the basic rights that refugees under the responsibility of this UN agency must benefit from”. They accuse the UNHCR of being an accomplice. For several years, the Tanzanian authorities have systematically violated the rights of refugees without the UN agency being able to intervene as it should, according to refugee rights defenders who are threatening to take the matter to international courts.

Nduta has more than 58,000 Burundian refugees. Its occupants fled the 2015 crisis following another controversial mandate of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza the same year, for the most part.