Attachments
Date of event
19-02-2025
What happened, where and when?
Since the occupation of Goma and Bukavu by armed groups and ongoing insecurity in DRC, Burundi has seen a growing influx of asylum seekers from DRC, especially in the Cibitoke province.
The preliminary data as of 17.02.2025 from the Disaster Management agency indicates that 30,000 asylum seekers have been received in Burundi, fleeing from DRC ongoing insecurity. These asylum seekers are housed in Gihanga commune (Bubanza province), Buganda commune (Kabuye site) and Rugombo commune (Cishemere site), both in Cibitoke province. The arrivals are growing daily and situation is quickly evolving, some sources indicate over 40,000 people as of 20.02.2025, urging for partners quick actions and positioning as the coordination is being put in place.
On 19 February, following a coordination meeting with humanitarian actors where the first data were shared, the Government reiterated the call for assistance to the partners and established a commission to coordinate the response to the influx of asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The commission's establishment underscores the government's commitment to providing immediate assistance and ensuring the well-being of the asylum seekers during their stay in Burundi through a coordinated intervention where all actors are called to contribute to according to their mandate and roles.