THE European Union (EU) and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) will inject 9.2bn/- (euro 3.0m) to strengthen humanitarian assistance for Congolese refugees at Nyarugusu Camp, Kigoma Region, in particular.

Christine Grau, the EU ambassador to Tanzania and the East African Community (EAC) zone, said in a statement yesterday that the support also concerns new arrivals temporarily housed at the Transit Centre in the region.

The support is intended to bolster UNHCR efforts in providing timely, life-saving and protection-sensitive services in health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) alongside shelter and education.

The focus will be on delivering specialized support to individuals with specific needs fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), she said, noting that the global increase in crises has led to an unprecedented number of refugees in urgent need of support around the world.

“That is why today I am proud to announce the signing of a 9.2bn/- (euro 3m) contract with UNHCR here in Tanzania," she said, underlining that the crucial agreement will directly benefit refugees in Tanzania, ensuring their protection, enabling them to access assured livelihoods.

The EU is firmly committed to humanitarian values and international solidarity, working together to address global challenges and uphold the rights and dignity of every individual seeking refuge, the envoy declared.

The UNHCR is working with national and international partners along with national authorities receiving new refugee arrivals in the region, where up to the start this month over 3,000 refugees have arrived in the region this year, she said.

UNHCR and its partners assist 85,105 Congolese refugees at the Nyarugusu Camp, where Zulqarnain Hussain Anjum, the UNHCR country representative, underscored the moral imperative in lending support.

"Standing with Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in Tanzania is not just our responsibility – it is a reflection of our shared humanity," he stated, explaining that “through the steadfast support of partners like the EU, we are not only meeting urgent needs, but investing in dignity, resilience and the foundations of lasting peace for families who deserve hope and a future."

Given the dire circumstances under which many refugees flee, often arriving with only the clothes on their backs, access to health, shelter, clean water, hygiene and sanitation facilities is paramount. These services are crucial not only for reducing mortality and morbidity but also for upholding the dignity, protection and overall well-being of asylum seekers and refugees, the statement noted.

UNHCR is projecting $14m (37.8bn/-) to adequately respond to the DRC refugee emergency in the region, with $5m (13.5bn/-) specifically for preparedness efforts, it said.

The agency is appealing for increased humanitarian and international community support as by May 31 Tanzania was hosting over 230,000 refugees, primarily from Burundi and the DRC, it added.