The United Nations has warned that Burundi is struggling to cope after more than 84,000 people fled renewed violence in eastern DRC into the country this month, marking the second major refugee influx this year.
According to UN agencies, fighting has continued around the eastern DRC town of Uvira despite a peace agreement brokered by the US earlier this year between DRC and Rwanda. Clashes involving M23 fighters and the Congolese army have pushed thousands of civilians to cross into Burundi daily, many travelling on foot or by boat across Lake Tanganyika.
The UN refugee agency said the scale and speed of arrivals have overwhelmed local resources, creating an acute humanitarian emergency. Boats carrying refugees continue to arrive despite previous withdrawal pledges, with some vessels reported to be unsafe. One boat reportedly capsized this week, resulting in fatalities.
Conditions inside refugee camps in Burundi have deteriorated sharply. Long queues for food and water have formed, sanitation is inadequate, and cholera cases have been reported. Refugees have described shortages of basic services, overcrowding, and open defecation near reception centres.
Burundi, one of the world’s poorest countries, has launched an emergency appeal seeking $35 million to meet urgent needs. UN officials warned that funding prospects remain uncertain amid sharp cuts in international aid this year, raising fears that conditions could worsen further without swift support.
Earlier this year, fighting in eastern DRC forced around 70,000 people to flee to Burundi, the largest displacement to the country in decades. UN officials said only about half of those refugees have since returned home.