Burundi struggles with surge of 63,000 refugees

Burundi faces its largest refugee influx in decades as 63,000 people flee from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo due to fighting between the Congolese army and M23 rebels, the UN reported. Approximately 45,000 displaced individuals are currently sheltering in an overcrowded open-air stadium in Rugombo, just kilometers from the Congo border.

Conditions at the stadium are deteriorating rapidly, with only 10-15 latrine stalls available for tens of thousands of people, creating serious sanitation concerns. Many families have been forced to camp in open fields near the stadium as space has run out, further complicating humanitarian efforts.

The refugee population includes a significant number of unaccompanied children who have been separated from their families during the chaos of displacement. On February 21, UNHCR announced plans to relocate people from the stadium, but logistical challenges have impeded progress.

The journey to Musenyi refugee site in southern Burundi takes six to eight hours, slowing evacuation efforts. The Musenyi facility, which can accommodate 10,000 people, is already 60 percent full, highlighting the strain on Burundi's refugee infrastructure.

UNHCR has established protection services to provide psychosocial support and identify vulnerable individuals, but resources for follow-up care remain extremely limited. The agency has launched an emergency appeal for $40.4 million to support up to 258,000 refugees potentially fleeing to Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia.

The Burundian government is working with international partners to address the crisis, but existing infrastructure and resources have been overwhelmed by the scale of arrivals. International support is urgently needed to prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions as the conflict in eastern DRC continues to drive civilians from their homes.