A delegation of the Communities of Sant'Egidio in Tanzania has visited and brought aid to the refugee camp of Kibilizi, which is located on the outskirts of Kigoma, at Lake Tanganyika. It is not far from the border with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Men, women, and children usually arrive at Kibilizi, which is a first reception camp. These persons are mainly fleeing from Burundi. From this campsite, the government directs the refugees to other camps that are situated in the nearby district of Kasulu and in other inland areas of the country.
About 300,000 refugees have left Burundi due to political tension and violence. Half of them have found refuge in Tanzania, where they are now facing a difficult situation related mainly to food shortage and malaria.
Here Sant'Egidio met the refugees (there are currently about 900 individuals in the camp, including many disabled and sick people) and distributed basic necessities. Flour, beans, salt, oil, soap, pants, and shoes, were purchased thanks to a fundraiser of the Community of Sant'Egidio that in a few weeks has completely involved Tanzania
The camp guests were astonished because it was the first time - some of them underlined - that aid arrived in the camp not from an international agency, "but from brothers and believers, from simple human beings who want to help other human beings".
