Musasa : after months of thirst, water returns… but the crisis threatens to continue

SOS Médias Burundi

Musasa, July 16, 2026 – After more than six months marked by a severe shortage of drinking water, Congolese refugees in the Musasa camp, located in Butanyerera province in northern Burundi, have finally regained access to this essential resource thanks to an emergency intervention by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The organization has established a temporary system of supplying water by truck from sources located in the district of Gasorwe, in Buhumuza province, in northeastern Burundi. While this measure brings relief to more than 9,000 refugees living in the camp, it does not dispel concerns about the future of the water supply.

Water returns after more than six months of deprivation

Since this week, a truck mobilized by the UNHCR has been transporting water daily from the Gasorwe springs to the Musasa camp.

Upon arrival, the water is poured into tanks before being distributed through various taps installed in the camp.

This intervention follows several months of hardship caused by the breakdown of the pump that supplied the site with drinking water.

During this period, many families were forced to buy water at high prices or travel long distances to obtain it, with significant repercussions on their health, hygiene, and living conditions.

“We thank the UNHCR for this initiative. Since the water has returned, we can breathe a little easier. Before, I spent a large part of my money on buying water. It was a very heavy burden for my family while we already have many other needs.” “Today, this expense has decreased, and that’s a huge relief,” says Espérance, a refugee in the Musasa camp.

An emergency solution that doesn’t fully reassure

Despite the return of the water supply, the refugees remain cautious. They consider the truck delivery only a temporary solution.

Many residents fear that this system will be disrupted by the ongoing fuel shortages plaguing the small East African nation.

According to them, a sustainable solution requires repairing the broken pump and ensuring a regular electricity supply to guarantee the continuous operation of the water system.

The refugees are calling for a permanent solution

A community leader in the camp, who requested anonymity, welcomed the UNHCR’s intervention while calling for long-term investments.

“We appreciate the UNHCR’s efforts, which have helped alleviate the suffering of the population. However, this alternative cannot replace a permanent solution.” “We are calling on the UNHCR and its water, sanitation, and hygiene partner, COPED, to redouble their efforts to secure funding for the repair or installation of a working pump and a reliable electricity connection. This is the only way to definitively end the water shortages in the camp,” he explains.

A crisis that reveals the fragility of the infrastructure

The Musasa camp hosts more than 9,000 Congolese refugees, who face numerous humanitarian challenges.

The drinking water shortage, which lasted more than six months, highlighted the fragility of the water supply infrastructure and the need for sustainable investments to guarantee regular access to this essential resource.

While the return of water by truck provides immediate relief, the refugees fear that the crisis will resurface until a permanent solution is implemented.

For them, access to drinking water is not just a daily need, but an essential condition for the health, hygiene, and dignity of the thousands of people living in the Musasa camp. They now hope that the UNHCR and its partners will mobilize necessary resources to sustainably restore the camp’s water supply system and put an end to a crisis that has lasted for more than six months.