The challenges of children with albinism in the temporary holding centers The Committee realizes the existence of a large number of children with albinism in the Lake Zone Region, hence there are a significant number of incidents where children with albinism are physically attacked and killed in this region. Responding to these challenges and the simultaneous absence of adequate protection for them at their homes and communities, the Government of Tanzania has established the so called Temporary Holding Centers (THCs) as ‘safe’ houses for children with albinism. Children at the shelters are placed in the Centres either by government officials or by their families. The Committee was told that currently in Tanzania there are 32 Holding Centres for children with albinism and it was also mentioned that no killings or bodily injury to the children with albinism is recorded once they entered the Centres. Among the Centers, the Committee visited the Center with the largest population of children with albinism, which is the Buhangija Centre. The Buhangija Center in Shinyanga District was initially established as a primary school for children with special needs (such as hearing or visual disabilities). Following the killings of people with albinism in Lake Zone region, in 2009, the Center started receiving children with albinism to offer accommodation and protection. By the time the Committee visited the Center, it was indicated that the Centre accommodates a total of 405 children out which 301 are children with albinism. The age of the children with albinism varies, with the youngest being two years old. The breakdown of the total number of children is as provided below in the table. Children with special needs Boys Girls No. of children Children with Albinism 156 146 301 Children with visual impairment 27 13 40 Children with hearing impairment 30 34 64 TOTAL 405 With all the challenges, since 2010, it was indicated that there have been limited improvements in some respects, including the provision of dormitories as opposed to tents (which was the case before 2010), increasing the number 6