UNHCR launched $40.4m appeal for DR Congo crisis, says mass displacement to Burundi

By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN refugee agency on Friday has launched a $40.4 million appeal to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its impact on neighbouring countries, particularly Burundi, where thousands fled daily in desperate conditions.

UN refugee agency said over 40,000 Congolese refugees – women and children have crossed into Burundi since February, with over 9,000 arrivals recorded in a single day this week as fighting escalates in eastern DRC.

Many are using makeshift boats to traverse the Rusizi River, a perilous crossing at the border shared by Burundi, DRC and Rwanda.

UNHCR Representative in Burundi, Brigitte Mukanga-Eno at a press briefing in Geneva said “The escalating security situation in the DR Congo has been having a serious impact on the Burundi side. Over the past few weeks, we have observed a large number of Congolese who have been crossing into Burundi”.

The situation is to worsen as hostilities move closer to Uvira, a key town near Burundi’s main official border crossing, she said.

UNHCR has welcomed the Burundian government’s decision to grant prima facie refugee status to those fleeing the conflict, ensure immediate protection. The unprecedented influx is straining local resources.

“This is the very first time that Burundi is receiving this large number of people in a matter of a few days”, Ms. Mukanga-Eno noted.

“The last one was in the early 2000s, so everyone is overwhelmed: the government, but also the humanitarian actors in the country.”

Over 6,000 refugees have entered through Bujumbura’s official border post, the vast majority more than 36,000 have arrived via the Rusizi River, often in critical condition after long journeys on foot.

“The other day, we had a case of a woman who was transporting her children and not knowing that they were already dead”, Ms. Mukanga-Eno shared.

The government has permitted refugees to shelter temporarily at the Rugombo Stadium in open-air conditions, as well as in schools and churches. These sites are overcrowded and dangerously close to the border.

“Unfortunately, the conditions for receptions are very limited,” Ms. Mukanga-Eno said.

She stressed that the government has allocated land to create a more sustainable settlement, but for now, people are still in schools and stadiums without adequate shelter.

UNHCR teams on the ground report severe shortages of food, water and sanitation facilities. Cases of measles have been detected, prompting an emergency vaccination campaign targeting children under 15.

She said the UNICEF has put water tanks in place and the WFP “has also been able to deploy some food for us to make sure that we can provide hot meals to the people who are coming.”

Médecins Sans Frontières is running a mobile clinic to treat refugees suffering from malnutrition, disease and trauma.

Many people have endured extreme violence before reaching Burundi, with psychosocial support urgently needed.

Beyond Burundi, smaller but significant numbers of displaced people have reached other countries.

Uganda has registered over 13,000 arrivals through the Nyakabande transit centre.

In Tanzania, 53 Congolese refugees sought asylum in Kigoma on 19 February, marked the highest daily arrival figure this year.

UNHCR’s $40.4 million appeal aims to provide life-saving assistance to 275,000 internally displaced people in the DR Congo, and support a projected influx of 258,000 refugees and returnees across Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

“We were targeting about 58,000 people. We have already received more than 40,000,” Ms. Mukanga-Eno said.

She called for urgent support from donors to prevent further suffering.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in New York said that the UNHCR, launched an appeal for $40.4 million to deliver protection and assistance to 275,000 internally displaced people in South Kivu, North Kivu, Maniema and Tanganyika provinces of the DRC as well as to support a potential influx of 258,000 refugees, asylum-seekers, and returnees in neighboring countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

“UNHCR said there is an urgent need for shelter, food and latrines as well as relocation of the new arrivals to other sites to address overcrowding,” Mr. Dujarric said.

“UNHCR and its partners are stepping up assistance, distributing warm meals and water to new arrivals. They need all sorts of relief supplies.”

He said that in South Kivu, humanitarian partners have also raised concerns that ongoing clashes in Uvira are hindering access, including the movement of ambulances, while hospitals are reporting daily casualties among civilians.

Mr. Dujarric added that in the Kalehe territory, fighting has forced more than 50,000 people to flee over the past week, many to Burundi.

He concluded that since February, over 40,000 Congolese nationals the majority of whom are women and children have arrived in Burundi seeking protection.