Thousands Stranded in Overcrowded Burundi Camp as Congo Conflict Intensifies
Over 63,000 refugees have fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, cramming into an overcrowded stadium in Burundi as aid agencies warn of worsening conditions and dwindling resources
- 45,000 refugees shelter in a packed stadium with limited sanitation and no space for new arrivals
- UN appeals for $40.4 million as resources struggle to meet the growing humanitarian crisis
- Fighting between Congo’s army and M23 rebels intensifies, forcing more civilians to flee
Over 63,000 people fleeing violent conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo have crossed into Burundi in recent weeks, overwhelming a temporary refugee camp where thousands are enduring desperate conditions, according to the United Nations.
An estimated 45,000 displaced individuals are crammed into an overcrowded open-air stadium in Rugombo, near the Congolese border, as fierce battles rage between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.
“The situation is dire. Conditions are extremely harsh,” said Faith Kasina, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency in East Africa. With the stadium at full capacity, many families are left to sleep in open fields, while inadequate sanitation and limited aid worsen the humanitarian crisis.
Efforts to relocate refugees to the designated Musenyi camp in southern Burundi have faced logistical hurdles, and with space running out, urgent international support is needed. The UN has launched a $40.4 million emergency appeal, anticipating a surge of up to 258,000 refugees across Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Meanwhile, tensions in eastern Congo continue to escalate, fueled by long-standing rivalries over Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and control of Congo’s mineral wealth. Accusations of Rwandan involvement in backing M23 rebels further complicate the conflict, as Burundi also deploys troops in the region.
With refugee numbers rising rapidly, aid agencies warn that time is running out to prevent an even greater humanitarian disaster.
