Crisis in Burundi: Refugees from DR Congo Face Dire Conditions

Wed Dec 24 2025 05:57:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As violence escalates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, nearly 90,000 refugees have fled to Burundi, facing severe hardships and a humanitarian crisis, according to aid organizations.

The ongoing violence in eastern DR Congo has led to a massive influx of refugees into Burundi. Aid agencies report that these individuals are living in dire conditions with insufficient food and water. Among those affected are vulnerable groups like women and children, with medical facilities overwhelmed and urgent calls for assistance to prevent disease outbreaks.

Nearly 90,000 refugees have fled violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) to seek safety in Burundi, where they are facing dire conditions in overcrowded camps with limited access to food and water, as noted by aid agencies.

The conflict escalated when the Congolese M23 rebels captured the city of Uvira near the Burundi border, prompting a mass exodus from their homes. Despite the rebels claiming to have withdrawn from Uvira, the situation remains critical for those displaced.

The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian circumstances. They have treated around 200 individuals daily since the recent arrivals began, noting that many refugees are in states of distress and exhaustion, including women who have given birth during fleeing.

UNHCR reports that children and pregnant women are among the most affected, some having gone days without food. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) is ramping up aid to over 210,000 individuals impacted by the violence, with half a million people displaced in South Kivu since early December.

As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, health services in the region are on the brink of collapse, with health centers looted and supplies unavailable. The WFP is providing hot meals for the newly arrived refugees but urgent funding is needed to continue these efforts.

The Uvira capture extended M23's territory in eastern DR Congo, and while US-led efforts seek to create peace and stability in the region, the situation remains volatile, with debates over the rebels' withdrawal ongoing.