Balozi Ramadhan Mwinyi, Naibu Muwakilishi wa Kudumu wa Tanzani katika Umoja wa Mataifa akizungumza wakati wa majadiliano kuhusu taarifa ya Kamisheni ya Umoja wa Mataifa inayohudumia wakimbizi ( UNHCR). Katika mchago wake, Balozi Mwinyi pamoja na Mambo mengine alieelezea uzoefu wa Tanzania katika kuwapokea, kuwahifadhi na pia mchakato wa kuwarejesha makwao kwa hiari wakimbizi baada ya hali ya usalama kutengemea. Pia alisifu ushirikiano mzuri ulipo katika ya Tanzania na Shirika hilo. Taarifa ya UNHCR inaelezea kwamba kwa kipindi cha mwaka jana watu 1.1 milioni walizikimbia nchi zao kutoka na sababu mbalimbali ikiwamo vita na machafuko kiasi cha kuliongezea mzigo Shirika hilo wakimbizi hao wanatoka katika nchi za DRC, Mali, Sudan/Sudan ya Kusini na Syria.
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STATEMENT BY
AMBASSADOR RAMADHAN M. MWINYI, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AGENDA ITEM 62: REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, QUESTIONS RELATING TO REFUGEES, RETURNEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS AND HUMANITARIAN QUESTIONS
AT THE THIRD COMMITTEE - 68TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
6 NOVEMBER, 2013 NEW YORK
Chairperson
Allow me to begin by thanking Mr. Antonio Guterres,
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for his elaborative and
informative statement. We commend him for his leadership as well as the staff
of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for
their dedication in offering protection, assistance and hope to refugees around
the world. We pay particular tribute to the commitment of UNHCR staff to the
important mission of their Agency.
My
delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished
representative of Zambia on behalf of the Southern Africa Development Community
(SADC).
Chairperson
My delegation welcomes the report of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees and takes note of the recommended institutional
reforms for more effective delivery
My delegation notes with concern the increase of
refugees at the end of 2012, when there were 2.8 million
refugees in Africa, more than the previous year, representing one quarter of
the global refugee population.
This is due to the eruption of violence in some parts of Africa
including a resurgence of fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
and the Central African Republic and ongoing conflict in the South Kordofan and
Blue Nile States in the Sudan forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee
their homes in search of safety.
Chairperson
As a host
state, we wish to share the experience of Tanzania in resolving and finding
solutions to refugee issues. The United
Republic of Tanzania with the assistance and co-operation of the office of the
High Commissioner currently hosts refugees mostly from DRC and Burundi.
It is
imperative to note that, despite the rise in the numbers and scales of
conflicts reported worldwide, some parts of Africa, notably the Great Lakes
Region (with an exception of Eastern
DRC), have seen and experienced relative stability in the last decade, compelling to
sustainable voluntary repatriation.
Where conditions improve and when circumstances permit, refugees need to
be encouraged to return to their countries of origin.
Chairperson,
On behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, I
wish to extend our sincere appreciation, for the commitment, determination and
the general support provided by the International Donor Community in finding a
durable and a lasting solution to the protracted situation involving some
35,000 Burundian Refugees, who had lived in exile in Tanzania for almost two
decades.
The successful and orderly return conducted in
conditions of safety and dignity and in line with International norms and
standards and the eventual closure of Mtabila refugee camp in Tanzania in
December, 2012, will remain a milestone achievement for many years to
come. The closure of Mtabila refugee
camp is a rare reflection of what the International community, can achieve and
indeed has given the International Community an opportunity to open a new
chapter on lessons learnt in addressing humanitarian interventions, especially
on issues partnering to orderly returns.
Chairperson,
The naturalization of the 1972 caseload involving
162,000 Burundians refugees, which was suspended in 2010, has been a moot
subject, both at local and International level. Due to its sensitivity and the
coverage, we cannot remain silent.
Over the years, the United Republic of Tanzania,
has remained and continues to be an icon of African’s generosity and
hospitality to refugees. As a nation we
are committed to safeguard that reputation, and indeed we remain committed and
determined to solving the 1972 caseload issue in the most transparent way, and
in a manner that will safeguarding the interests of the parties involved. While to some, this issue might be seen to
have taken long, it is nonetheless imperative to underscore the need to involve
all relevant stakeholders in the decision making process, for the outcome to be
socially desirable and implementable.
Chairperson,
The United Republic of Tanzania continues with
total dedication in pursuing her International obligation in hosting the needy
refugees. In the pursuit of this noble and humanitarian cause, we remain
focused and guided by the need for finding durable and lasting solution to the
refugee problem. On the Somali Refugee Problem, to which the
High Commissioner has repeatedly alluded to over the years, the United Republic
of Tanzania, is in the final stage of concluding the naturalization and
integrating for all Somali refugees who had applied for citizenship.
Chairperson,
In conclusion, let me reiterate the United
Republic of Tanzania’s continued commitment in upholding her International
obligations, in line with the various conventions to which we are party. We
will continue to keep our doors open to genuine and credible asylum seekers and
refugees, seeking sanctuary in Tanzania, and will continue to engage the
International Donor Community in seeking durable and lasting solutions to the
refugee cause.
I
thank you for your attention.
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