The International Rescue Committee has been serving refugees and host communities in the Kigoma region of western Tanzania since 1993. The IRC maintains field offices in Kigoma, Kasulu, and Kibondo, as well as a head office in Dar es Salaam.

Operations began in response to a large influx of refugees from Rwanda and Burundi, triggered by the ethnic violence in 1993.  As political and ethnic turmoil increased in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), thousands more followed.

The vast majority of refugees in Tanzania are from Burundi and DRC.  UNHCR and implementing partners assist approximately 280,000 refugees in Tanzania, including an estimated 153,000 Burundians who currently call Tanzania their home. The conflict in Burundi displaced an estimated one million persons. 

How We Help
Today, the IRC serves approximately 115,000 Burundian refugees in Kigoma region.  We provide health and psychosocial assistance in camps and during repatriation to approximately 50,000 refugees in Kibondo District camps, camp management to approximately 65,000 refugees in Kasulu District camps, and in Kigoma provides medical screenings for new arrivals, medical transport services, and medical screenings and escorts for those repatriating to DRC.  Since 2001, IRC has administered a Refugee Host Areas (RHA) program. IRC aims to assist communities to host large refugee populations and works to promote beneficial relationships between the two.

With increasing stability in both Burundi and DRC, refugees are choosing to repatriate.  IRC, in accord with UNHCR promotes and facilitates voluntary repatriation to Burundi and facilitates voluntary repatriation to DRC.  Since UNHCR initiated facilitated voluntary repatriation to Burundi, over 105,000 refugees have returned to Burundi from Kibondo.  From Kasulu, over 40,000 Burundians and Congolese have chosen to repatriate.