Giharo: close to 20,000 Congolese refugees threatened by famine

Having been living for over a month at the Musenyi site in Giharo commune in Rutana province (southeastern Burundi), Congolese refugees displaced from the provinces of Bubanza and Cibitoke in the northwest—not far from the border with Congo—are living in alarming conditions. No food, medical care, or adequate shelter, a situation described as dire humanitarian condition.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

There are exactly 18,432 Congolese refugees transferred from the communes of Gihanga (Bubanza) and Rugombo (Cibitoke) to the Musenyi site in Giharo commune, Rutana province. Since their arrival over a month ago, they have received no concrete assistance as hunger is becoming an enemy feared as the violence they fled.

“We’d rather go back and die from bullets than starve to death here,” says a refugee, his voice cracking with despair.

On site, living conditions are considered deplorable: there is a lack of food, drinking water, medicine, and bedding. The refugees sleep on the ground, often without protection from bad weather. The feeling of abandonment is profound.

Malnutrition and Health Risks

A local medical source is already warning of accute cases of malnutrition, particularly among children under five, as well as a rise in diseases linked to poor sanitation, such as gastrointestinal infections and diseases caused by dirty hands.

“If nothing is done quickly, we will see a major health crisis,” warns a health worker working in the region.

Despite visits by several humanitarian organizations, including the UNHCR, no concrete aid has been distributed to date. NGOs attribute this delay to the need to conduct in-depth assessments before any intervention. This response is considered too slow by the refugees, whose situation continues to deteriorate.

UNHCR Recognizes the Urgency

Interviewed, a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and announced that actions were underway, including the construction of temporary housing. However, no specific date has been provided for the start of food or health distributions.

A Continuous Influx of Refugees

Meanwhile, the arrival of new refugees from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. They are fleeing the fighting between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army, backed by Burundian forces and local militias allies of the Congolese authorities, commonly known as the Wazalendo.

With its shelter capacity already stretched, the commune of Giharo is facing a major humanitarian crisis. Local authorities, overwhelmed by the scale of the situation, are calling for national and international mobilization to avert an imminent catastrophe.

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Installation of Congolese refugees in Rugombo, before their transfer to the Musenyi site where living conditions keep worsening (SOS Médias Burundi)