CWS emergency appeal scale up: Burundi refugee crisis


July 22, 2016

Appeal amount: $2,998,470

SITUATION

It has been more than a year since Burundi’s current crisis of political violence began last April, and in that time more than 267,000 Burundians have fled the country seeking safety. The situation in Burundi continues to worsen as unrest spreads from the capital into other provinces. The conflict has also brought about an economic collapse, ensuring that Burundian refugees will not be able to return home safely soon.

More than 140,000 Burundian refugees are living in three camps in neighboring Tanzania: Nyarugusu, Mtendeli and Nduta. Of those refugees, 57 percent are children and youth. On average, 100 new refugees arrive daily.

CWS and its ACT Alliance partners are expanding relief efforts to address long-term needs of those living in the camps. A priority remains to build stronger relationships between new arrivals and their local neighbors, including Tanzanians and refugees who are living in the camps after having been displaced from other conflicts.

RESPONSE

CWS continues to be one of the ACT Alliance members responding on the ground in Tanzania along with Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service. The next phase of the ACT Alliance response will support over 67,000 refugees in the three camps. The response will focus on water, sanitation, hygiene, cash grants, distribution of non-food items, community-based psychosocial counseling, primary education and livelihoods and self reliance.

CWS will focus on livelihood opportunities and self reliance among refugees living in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, where more than 64,000 Burundian refugees are living with 65,000 other refugees who are primarily Congolese. This work will focus on increasing literacy rates, assisting refugees in building technical skills to generate income and meeting demand for agricultural jobs.

Additionally, CWS will partner with TCRS to implement the same types of programs in Mtendeli and Nduta camps.

HOW TO HELP

Those wishing to support CWS in this next phase of response should donate directly to ACT Alliance and should designate gifts to CWS.

U.S. Dollars:
Account number – 240-432629.60A
IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Account Name: ACT Alliance
UBS AG
8, rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND
Swift address: UBSWCHZH80A

CWS is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.