Buhumuza : a new site opened urgently to accommodate the influx of Congolese refugees

SOS Médias Burundi

Ruyigi, December 11, 2025 — Since the afternoon of Tuesday, December 9, a significant influx of Congolese refugees has been observed in the province of Buhumuza, in the district of Ruyigi, in the east of the small east African nation. Hundreds of people, fleeing the growing insecurity in eastern DRC — particularly around the recently fallen city of Uvira — are crossing the border to seek refuge on Busuma hill, where a new reception site is being set up.

More than 1,500 refugees in less than 24 hours

On Wednesday, the day after the first wave of arrivals, 1,503 refugees were already living in makeshift shelters made of loincloths, a few tarpaulins distributed in an emergency, or simply tree leaves. Some remained completely exposed until nightfall, SOS Médias Burundi reporters observed.

The UNHCR, accompanied by several local humanitarian organizations—COPED, the Burundi Red Cross, and HealthNet TPO—immediately deployed to provide initial assistance.

Women, children, and the elderly in a state of extreme vulnerability

According to local and humanitarian sources, the refugees are mostly women, children, and the elderly. Many say they fled violent clashes, abuses against civilians, or bombings around Uvira and neighboring towns.

Most come from the Bashi, Bafulero, and Barundi communities, concentrated in the immediate vicinity of Uvira and the surrounding urban centers.

“We fled in a panic. Stray bullets hit people near us. Some of our family members disappeared during the escape,” recounts a Bafulero refugee, still in shock.

Several refugees thank Burundi for opening its borders and offering them initial refuge.

An emergency site is being prepared for 20,000 people.

Faced with the scale of the influx, Burundian authorities have begun developing a new refugee site on Busuma hill. Upon the first arrivals, the administrator of Ruyigi, Diane Niyibitanga, in collaboration with the National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA) and humanitarian partners, established a temporary reception system.

According to Christian Igirukwishaka, administrator of the new site, it will be able to accommodate up to 20,000 people as semi-permanent shelters are built.

Immense needs : food, water, healthcare, shelter

Humanitarian needs remain critical :

insufficient access to food,

lack of drinking water—the only water source is nearly a kilometer away and is shared with the host community and the Bikinga primary school,

high risk of diseases related to overcrowding,

lack of basic necessities.

According to a humanitarian worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, the number of refugees could reach 6,000 by the end of the week if the current rate of arrivals continues.

Pressure on host communities

Residents of Busuma and the surrounding villages are calling on the government and its partners to increase support to prevent tensions related to the strain on the already limited local resources.

A country already fragile in the face of hosting refugees

The small east African nation is already hosting more than 100,000 Congolese refugees, primarily from eastern DRC. Burundian authorities reaffirm their commitment to protecting all asylum seekers but are requesting increased support from the international community.

“I call on all charitable souls and our partners to come to the aid of these vulnerable people,” said Administrator Diane Niyibitanga.