Intensifying fighting between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government forces and M23 rebels in South Kivu province has forced around half a million people from their homes, with tens of thousands crossing into neighbouring Burundi in search of safety.
The United Nations (UN) refugee agency, UNHCR, says the number of Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in Burundi has now risen to more than 200 000, stretching the country’s already limited humanitarian resources.
UNHCR’s representative in Burundi, Brigitte Mukanga Eno, says shelters and transit centres are overwhelmed, leaving many families without adequate access to clean water, sanitation and basic services. She warns that unless urgent international support is mobilised, conditions are likely to worsen.
Among those who fled is 24-year-old Andrea Bokoro, who says she escaped after witnessing deadly violence in her community in eastern DRC. Her story mirrors that of thousands of others caught up in a conflict that continues to drive mass displacement across the region.
–ChannelAfrica-
