Tanzania — humanitarian situation

Tanzania hosts 130,924 refugees and asylum seekers as of 31 July 2026, predominantly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi UNHCR. The majority, 89,574 individuals, reside in Nyarugusu Camp in Kigoma Region, while 41,350 refugees—mostly Burundian—live in urban areas and settlements across Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Katavi, and Tabora regions. New arrivals continue from eastern DRC, where ongoing armed clashes and violence by non-state armed groups have driven cross-border displacement; Tanzania received 175 new asylum seekers in July 2026 alone UNHCR. The broader eastern DRC conflict has generated approximately 15,700 Congolese refugees and asylum seekers to neighbouring countries since January 2026, while an Ebola outbreak declared in May has compounded humanitarian needs with more than 1,900 confirmed cases reported by the Government UNHCR. Voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees has continued under the Tripartite Agreement, with UNHCR deploying cash-based interventions to support returnees' immediate needs and sustainable reintegration during the first half of 2026 UNHCR. Food security concerns are emerging due to erratic rainfall distribution during the 2026 Masika and Msimu cropping seasons, which has affected yields in northern, northeastern, and coastal bimodal rainfall areas FAO. Pockets of acute food insecurity have developed as a result of crop losses and elevated food prices. Energy shocks stemming from the Middle East crisis have driven fuel prices upward—petrol increased 47 percent and diesel 60 percent compared to February 2026—while liquefied petroleum gas prices rose between 6 and 17 percent WFP. These increases have inflated Tanzania's import bill for capital goods and essential commodities. The intensifying El Niño event, expected to peak during the October-December rainy season and potentially amplified by a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, poses severe flooding risks following current dry conditions OCHA. Across Eastern Africa, 48.5 million people require humanitarian assistance, with over 40 million facing acute food insecurity OCHA. WFP assisted 144,428 people in June 2026, including 106,426 refugees in Nyarugusu Camp at 50 percent rations, while maintaining full planned nutrition support for children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls WFP. The organization requires USD 6.8 million for the next six months through December 2026 to sustain operations.