As the relentless turmoil persists in the eastern realms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a heart-wrenching humanitarian calamity unfurls in neighboring Burundi. With every dawn, the tide of desperate individuals swells, eager to escape the strife across the northwestern frontier. Amidst dire circumstances, many resort to precariously fashioned boats, daring the unpredictable Rusizi River in a daring bid for safety.
Wednesday witnessed an incredible influx—over 9,000 souls crossed over, each bringing tales of an increasingly desperate plight across the border.
Since February, the trickle of those fleeing has burgeoned into a flood of over 40,000 Congolese; primarily women and children, desperate for asylum. The crescendo of conflict hurdles closer to Uvira, perilously near the key border pass to Burundi.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) responded with gratitude as Burundi graciously accorded prima facie refugee status to these beleaguered refugees, granting them immediate access to protection and essential aid.
Our new arrivals hail mainly from regions caught perennially in conflict, already internally displaced, now compelled to board this dreadful carousel once more. They’ve journeyed from as far afield as Goma, a poignant testament to the cycles of displacement churning through East Africa.
UNHCR field teams are encountering a staggering number of children, many unaccompanied and disoriented due to family dislocations. Frantic to escape gunfire and mortal peril, they’ve struggled for sustenance, abandoning their land and livelihoods.
A vast majority of these desperate refugees traverse informal crossing routes, circumventing the established paths to brave the Rusizi River, eventually finding themselves in the Rugombo and Buganda communes of Cibitoke Province. Countless families remain vulnerable beneath the wrath of the sky, exposed to the punishing seasonal rains. Some have found temporary refuge in schools, transit hubs, and a stadium, yet the offerings here — sanitation, shelter — are far from adequate.
Immediate exigencies loom large for shelter, nourishment, and sanitation solutions. Immediate relocation to alleviate crowding is imperative.
The region’s humanitarian situation teeters on a knife’s edge, with the specter of disease prowling among them. The confirmation of measles cases only exacerbates the fragile health landscape. Vaccination efforts frantically proceed in Rugombo to stem this tide.
In an earnest bid to stem the deprivation, UNHCR redoubles its efforts, offering warm meals, water, and vital supplies such as blankets and hygiene products. The bedrock of community organizations provides invaluable assistance to these asylum-seekers.
In collaboration with Burundian authorities, plans are afoot to rehome refugees to Musenyi, a southeastern sanctuary with room for up to 10,000. There are budding intentions to expand capacity with new land allocations.
While the bulwark of Burundi bears the brunt, movements across the region remain subdued, with approximately 15,000 new arrivals marked in neighboring lands since January. In Uganda, upwards of 13,000 from the DRC, Goma included, have made passage, primarily through the Nyakabande transit centre. Rwanda, thus far, does not report a significant spike in asylum-seekers; many have already retraced their steps back into the DRC. On one notable day in February, as many as 53 Congolese sought sanctuary in Kigoma, Tanzania, marking a peak for this dire year.
In addressing this burgeoning catastrophe, UNHCR calls for an emergency fund of $40.4 million. These resources are critical to bolster readiness and deliver life-preserving interventions for 275,000 internally displaced in South Kivu, North Kivu, Maniema, and Tanganyika provinces of the DRC, while also accommodating a potential influx of 258,000 asylum-seekers in neighboring sanctuaries like Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
UNHCR makes a fervent plea to the global community: now more than ever, your support is essential to complement the national and humanitarian endeavors being set in motion. The towering needs dangerously outpace available resources. Absent an immediate capital injection, we face the grim prospect of exacerbation as this crisis lumbers on.
For extended discourse, please direct communications by contacting:
In Bujumbura: Bernard Ntwari, [bernardntwari@example.com](mailto:bernardntwari@example.com), +257 69 91 80 00
In Kinshasa: Hanson Tamfu, [hansontamfu@example.com](mailto:hansontamfu@example.com), +243 825 257 774
In Nairobi (regional): Faith Kasina, [faithkasina@example.com](mailto:faithkasina@example.com), +254 113 427 094
In Pretoria (regional): Duniya Aslam Khan, [duniyakhan@example.com](mailto:duniyakhan@example.com), +27 84 585 720
In Geneva: Olga Sarrado Mur, [olgasarrado@example.com](mailto:olgasarrado@example.com), +41797402307
In Geneva: Eujin Byun, [eujinbyun@example.com](mailto:eujinbyun@example.com), +41 79 747 8719
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
