Burundi : Christmas in the storm, Congolese refugees hit by heavy rains in Musenyi

SOS Médias Burundi

Musenyi, December 26, 2025 – Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds struck the Musenyi refugee camp in Musongati district, Burunga province, southern Burundi, on Thursday. This extreme weather event worsened the already precarious situation of more than 20,000 Congolese refugees living there, who fled the ongoing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Around 1 p.m., powerful gusts of wind and torrential rain caused significant material damage. Several makeshift shelters, consisting mainly of tents and sheds, were destroyed or severely damaged. Community infrastructure, including churches used by the refugees, was also affected. Homes belonging to host communities were also damaged.

This calamity has left hundreds of families homeless, exposed to the rain and wind. Children, who are very numerous at the site, are among the hardest hit. On this day meant to be marked by solidarity and rest, Christmas has turned into a struggle to find shelter, salvage what little they can, and protect the most vulnerable.

According to testimonies gathered on site, several refugees recounted seeing their tents collapse in minutes, taking their few belongings with them. Some explained that they spent the afternoon seeking refuge with less affected neighbors or under structures that were still standing, constantly fearing for their children’s safety.

A refugee at the site, contacted on condition of anonymity, testified :

“My whole family was in the tent when the wind started tearing everything apart. I ran to save my children. Our mattresses, our food, and other belongings were damaged. We have nothing left, not even a dry place to sleep.”

Other refugees, already scarred by previous disasters, speak of a profound sense of discouragement. They recall that last April, heavy rains had already caused significant damage in the area, with reported flooding. For them, the recurrence of these extreme weather events exacerbates their distress and uncertainty about the future.

The neighborhoods most affected by this new storm are districts 29, 30, 39, and 43, where the destruction is particularly visible. In these areas, many shelters have become uninhabitable, forcing families to improvise temporary solutions in extremely difficult conditions.

On this Christmas Day marked by distress, the refugees of Musenyi are making an urgent appeal for humanitarian aid to the Burundian government, UNHCR, and its partners for the reconstruction of shelters, the protection of children, and the provision of essential supplies. But assistance is likely to be delayed, and in vain.” The small East African nation took in approximately 90,000 new Congolese refugees this December, who are now housed in sites lacking clean water, sanitation, secure shelter, and failing to meet any minimum humanitarian standards.

In Musenyi, this climate disaster serves as yet another stark reminder of the extreme vulnerability of displaced populations, caught between armed conflict and climate change.