Tanzania: Information on "Mission to Seamen" an international Christian organization governed by the Anglican Church with headquarters in London, and whose patron is Queen Elizabeth
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TZA27409.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Tanzania: Information on "Mission to Seamen" an international Christian organization governed by the Anglican Church with headquarters in London, and whose patron is Queen Elizabeth, 1 July 1997, TZA27409.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab6c9c.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 28 July 1997 interview with the DIRB, the Secretary General of the Mission to Seamen in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, stated that the Mission to Seamen is a charitable organization governed by the Church of England with representation in over 300 countries in the world. He stated that it has been operating in Tanzania since 1950 and caters to the physical and spiritual interests of bona fide seafarers regardless of their faith (ibid.). The Mission to Seamen, he stated, ensures that seafarers have seamen's passports, passbooks, and other necessary documents from their countries, allowing them to go to sea (ibid.). He explained that when seafarers run into problems concerning their contracts and working conditions on the ship, the Mission to Seamen acts as a mediator between them and the International Transport Workers Federation (IWTF) (ibid.).
The Secretary General emphasized that "the Tanzanian authorities forbid us to have anything to do with refugees." Cases of refugees and/ or refugee claimants are referred to the UNHCR offices in Dar-es- Salaam (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Mission to Seamen, Dar-es-Salaam. 28 July 1997. Telephone interview with Secretary General.
