It was created by the UNHCR and the Tanzanian government in 1996/1997 after an estimated 150,000 Congolese refugees from the eastern Sud-Kivu region of the DRC crossed the border, by crossing Lake Tanganyika, into the western region of Tanzania, escaping civil war. Until the riots and civil war like situation in Burundi began the population of the camp was actually reducing. But since over 110,000 Burundians arrived in Tanzania and were split between Nyarugusu (65,000) and two other camps: Nduta (55,000) and Mtendeli (19,000) (WOW).