Photo of the week : Lack of aid for more than 2,000 Burundians newly admitted to the Mulongwe camp

More than 2,000 Burundian refugees have been transferred from the Kavimvira transit camp to the Mulongwe camp in the Fizi territory in the South Kivu province (eastern Democratic Republic of Congo). Since they have been in this new camp, they have not stopped asking for emergency food aid, in vain.

The UNHCR confirms that these refugees have not been assisted since they have been there but explains that they left the temporary Kavimvira camp after receiving cash assistance from the WFP to buy food.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Concerned refugees left the Kavimvira transit site (Uvira territory – same province) three weeks ago. Some are sleeping under the stars while others occupy hangars.

They deplore the lack of food assistance they face. To feed their children, some refugees sell kitchen utensils. This is the case of K.R, a mother of 6 children.

“We have nothing to eat. My children have fallen ill since we arrived here. No food assistance from the UNHCR. We live in bad conditions,” she lamented.

According to these refugees, there is no difference between the old site and the camp that currently shelters them where several households were forced to beg to survive.

Alexis, father of 6 children, says that “I had to sell household items to find money to buy food for my family.” He asks the UNHCR to come to the aid of the new occupants of Mulongwe.

In addition to the problem of lack of food aid, the new occupants of Mulongwe sleep in sheds where children, women and men are not separated.

The representative of Burundian refugees in Mulongwe, Déo Ntakirutimana, contacted the UNHCR.

The UN agency in charge of refugees confirms the situation. However, it explains that these Burundians received cash aid from the WFP (World Food Program) before being relocated to enable them to buy the food they need.

Our photo : new arrivals in front of a hangar in Mulongwe, October 2024 (SOS Médias Burundi)