Oxfam sends relief supplies to Burundi refugees

  The camp is hosting more than 100,000 refugees who have fled Burundi in the last one week after protests erupted over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s plan to run for a third term

    NAIROBI, Kenya, May 17 – Relief in the form of water and sanitary equipment has been dispatched by the Oxfam humanitarian Organization to the Kigoma Refugee camp in Tanzania. The camp is hosting more than 100,000 refugees who have fled Burundi in the last one week after protests erupted over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s plan to run for a third term. According to Oxfam, the camp is receiving at least 10,000 fresh refugees hence its decision to send aid.

Oxfam, which specialises in water and sanitary equipment, has sent water tanks which include a 10,000 litre tank, 500 pieces of latrine slabs, 57 pieces of tap stands, water treatment units, pipes including 25 horse pipes and water buckets among other items.
“There are fears of waterborne diseases erupting at the camp because of the increase in the number of refugees at the camp. This is mainly because of the consumption of untreated water and the lack of proper disposal of waste,” Oxfam Regional Business Systems Manager Horn, East and Central Africa Joseph Mari said.
The company is working with other agencies such as UNHCR and the government of Tanzania to ensure that the refugees get clean water and other amenities.