Burundi-DRC Border Photo: UNHCR Burundi.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has raised the alarm over the displacement of 10,000 to 15,000 people toward Burundi in recent days due to violent clashes caused by the M23 terrorist group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Most of the displaced individuals are Congolese citizens, many from Bukavu in South Kivu, a region where insecurity and conflict have reached critical levels.
Ce week-end, environ 10 000 personnes fuyant le conflit en RDC sont arrivées au #Burundi. Épuisées et traumatisées, elles ont besoin d'une aide urgente. Les équipes du #HCR travaillent sur place, mais un soutien renforcé est crucial pour répondre rapidement à leurs besoins. pic.twitter.com/4uVnh5Rp2S
— UNHCR Burundi (@UNHCR_Burundi) February 17, 2025
Among those seeking refuge are also Burundian nationals, returning to their country as violence intensifies.
According to UNHCR, most refugees, who have lost contact with their families, arrive through the Gatumba border post, near Bujumbura, Burundi’s main city.
The UN agency has deployed teams in the area to provide assistance and ensure that the newly arrived individuals receive protection while registration and reception procedures are completed.
Meanwhile, Burundian authorities report that thousands have entered through unofficial border crossings, including areas near the Rusizi River, where several people have drowned. Border communities face dire conditions, lacking adequate water and sanitation infrastructure.
On the Congolese side, around 10,400 people have sought refuge in schools, awaiting relocation to safer settlements by the Burundian government.
Authorities in Burundi, in collaboration with UNHCR, are assessing the conditions of the new arrivals to identify those in need of international protection and provide information on available services.
Once registered, refugees are moved to transit centers, where they receive food, clean water, and basic medical care. However, these centers have exceeded their initial capacity, raising concerns over resource shortages and growing tensions among the displaced population.
The escalation of violence in the DRC has forced more than 150,000 people to flee their homes, with 85,000 living in makeshift camps with limited access to basic services such as water, shelter, and healthcare.
The new wave of refugees adds to the 91,000 displaced people and asylum seekers already in Burundi, most of whom are Congolese who have lived in the country for decades.
