40,000 flee DRC fighting into Burundi

Thousands of Congolese refugees are arriving in Burundi due to ongoing conflict between M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and their allies in South Kivu.

The M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, have claimed control of the city of Uvira as of Wednesday.

To manage the influx of refugees, new reception sites have been established, including the Kansega transit site in Ndava zone, situated in Bujumbura province near the DRC border.

Conditions at these sites are challenging, with refugees facing a lack of basic amenities such as water, toilets, and shelters. Many refugees report severe hardships experienced during their journey to Burundi.

According to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), between December 5 and December 11, 40,000 Congolese refugees arrived in Burundi. They are currently accommodated across three transit sites: Kansega, Cishemere, and Gatumba.

UNHCR representative Brigitte Mukanga-Engo visited Kansega on December 11, confirming the dire conditions and acknowledging significant resource shortages. She emphasized the need for urgent action and collaboration with local and international partners.

The UNHCR is coordinating with Burundi's immigration services and the government agency ONPRA. Additionally, the Directorate of Repatriation is involved due to the presence of Burundian nationals who had been refugees in the DRC and are now returning.

In response to the increasing number of arrivals, UNHCR has announced plans to open a new refugee camp in Bweru, located in eastern Burundi.

As of this summer, Burundi is hosting over 71,000 Congolese refugees, with approximately 18,000 residing in the Musenyi camp.

Based on reporting by Africanews.