Kinama : dilapidated toilets in the Congolese refugee camp

The Kinama refugee camp, located in the district of Gasorwe in the province of Muyinga (northeast Burundi), is home to more than 7,000 Congolese refugees. Since its creation in 2002, the camp has had many refugees resettled in the United States, Canada and Australia. Despite these departures, living conditions in the camp remain difficult for its occupants, particularly with regard to access to adequate sanitation facilities. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The dilapidated toilets, sometimes without doors and giving off foul odors, constitute a real health problem and a threat to the health and dignity of refugees.

In this camp, some toilets do not even have a door, leaving users exposed to prying eyes. The smells they give off are unbearable, making the experience even more unpleasant, noted an SOS Médias Burundi reporter.

“It’s horrible to use these toilets. There is no door, everyone can see what we are doing. It is a shame and we are afraid of being seen. It is also very dangerous because the toilets are in poor condition and can collapse,” says a refugee.

“I can’t take my children to the toilet because they are afraid. They don’t like using these latrines that are too dirty and have no door,” adds another mother.

To better understand health consequences of this alarming situation, we interviewed a health worker assigned to Kinama.

“Poorly maintained toilets can cause many diseases,” he explains. “Gastrointestinal infections are common in environments where hygiene is neglected. In addition, the absence of doors increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections and other problems related to the privacy of users.”

He also points out that children are particularly vulnerable : “they are often the most affected by diseases such as diarrhea or cholera due to the lack of hygiene in these facilities. Humanitarian organizations must act to improve these conditions before it becomes a real health crisis,” he warns.

The aging toilets in Kinama Camp are not only an inconvenience, they constitute a real danger to public health.

“It is imperative that measures are taken to remedy this precarious situation in order to ensure a dignified and healthy living environment for all camp residents,” believes a refugee intellectual.