Engen supports World Refugee Day celebrations in Tanzania

Monday, 22 June 2009

Engen, the African energy multinational, has thrown its weight behind World Refugee Day celebrations in Tanzania this year, with an awareness-raising sponsorship effort.

"With Engen Tanzania's current contribution, we wanted to honour 58 years of work by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in support of displaced persons in Africa and around the world," says Seelan Naidoo, Engen Tanzania country manager.

"We are truly privileged to be associated with such a proud record of advancing the health and safety of millions of refugees. These are real people with real needs, not the problem they're sometimes unthinkingly made out to be."

For decades Tanzania has hosted one of the largest refugee populations on the continent. In 2008, 85 000 Burundian and Congolese refugees, through the UNHCR's focus on durable solution, were voluntarily repatriated or resettled.

Engen is just as committed to forging enduring relationships in Africa. While other oil companies are disinvesting from the continent, it has made a positive contribution to the local communities, environments and economies in each of its 16 African affiliates operations.

As regards Engen's corporate social investment activities, the company has a uniform focus on education, the environment, health and safety – throughout the continent.

Before a priority focus area is decided upon for any operation, the company assesses the needs and circumstances of that specific country. It further always seeks alignment with a country's national developmental agenda or prominent development initiatives; hence this year's focus on Tanzania's refugee problem.

World Refugee Day celebrations will take place on 20 June, hosted by the UNHCR.