Under heavy rainfall, children, women, and other vulnerable Burundian refugees were brutally forced out of their homes as shelters were being demolished by the SUNGUSUNGU, acting under orders from Tanzanian authorities. Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of fear and distress, with families expelled without warning and left exposed to the elements.
Already weakened by years of displacement, these families are now left without shelter, facing rain, cold, and serious health risks. The destruction of their homes goes far beyond material loss; it strips refugees of the minimal stability and dignity they had managed to rebuild while in exile.
According to information documented by CDH/VICAR, these actions appear to be part of a deliberate strategy to coerce Burundian refugees into returning against their will. By using shelter demolitions as a tool of pressure, the authorities are openly disregarding international protection obligations and the real security risks refugees may face if returned to Burundi.
CDH/VICAR strongly condemns these inhumane practices, which constitute a serious violation of the right to asylum and the principle of non-refoulement. Forcing families to abandon their homes under the rain in order to push them toward return is a grave assault on human dignity. CDH/VICAR urgently calls on the Tanzanian authorities, UNHCR, and the international community to act immediately to halt these abuses. States must uphold their commitments.
