CDH/VICAR raises serious concern over the worsening humanitarian situation of Congolese refugees in Burundi, as instability and armed violence continue to ravage the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Fleeing insecurity and human rights violations, tens of thousands of civilians have crossed into Burundi in search of protection, despite the host country’s own economic and social fragilities.
To date, more than 90,000 Congolese refugees have been registered on Burundian territory. While many reside in refugee camps, a significant number live within host communities under extremely precarious conditions. Access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities remains severely limited, exposing these populations to chronic vulnerability and deepening humanitarian distress.
This already critical situation has been further aggravated by a cholera outbreak affecting refugee sites and surrounding areas. For several months, cases have been reported amid overcrowding, poor waste management, inadequate sanitation infrastructure, and acute shortages of clean water. These conditions have facilitated the rapid spread of the disease, with fatalities already recorded, particularly among children and older persons.
According to UNHCR, humanitarian funding remains dangerously insufficient, and local response capacities are nearing collapse. In light of this dual emergency—forced displacement and epidemic—CDH/VICAR urgently calls on the international community to mobilize emergency resources for cholera response and WASH systems, scale up humanitarian assistance, and actively support peace efforts in eastern DRC. Human dignity cannot wait. States must uphold their commitments.
