Thousands of displaced persons from eastern DR Congo have sought refuge in Burundi as conflict intensifies across the South and North Kivu provinces.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, over 10,000 people have crossed into Burundi in recent days, escaping the escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The majority of those arriving are Congolese, primarily from the Bukavu area in South Kivu province, where conditions continue to deteriorate.
A smaller number of Burundian nationals have also returned to their homeland, fleeing clashes.
Most refugees are reaching the Gatumba border post near the capital, Bujumbura, arriving in a state of exhaustion and distress.
Many have been separated from their families and have little information on their whereabouts.
UNHCR teams and partner organisations are on the ground, ensuring that those seeking safety receive the necessary support while awaiting registration and further reception procedures.
In addition to the official entry points, thousands are crossing into Burundi through unofficial routes, including along the Rusizi River near Rugombo, where reports indicate that several individuals have drowned.
The conditions in communities near the border remain dire, with acute shortages of shelter, clean water, and sanitation facilities.
At one location on the DRC side, approximately 10,400 people are currently taking refuge in schools and a local stadium, awaiting relocation to safer areas inland.
The Burundian authorities, with the support of UNHCR, are working to verify and screen new arrivals to identify those in need of international protection and inform them about available services.
Registered refugees are being relocated to transit centres, where UNHCR and its partners are providing essential supplies, including food, clean drinking water, and healthcare.
However, overcrowding at these centres is becoming a significant concern, with some currently accommodating up to four times their intended capacity, further straining limited resources and heightening tensions among arrivals.
In collaboration with the government of Burundi, UNHCR and partner organisations are striving to ensure that refugees receive the necessary assistance and protection.
However, as the crisis deepens, urgent additional resources are required to meet the growing humanitarian needs.
The situation in eastern DRC remains dire, with recent clashes in South Kivu alone displacing more than 150,000 people.
