Attachments
Situation Update
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70,174 people have crossed from the DRC into Burundi since the beginning of 2025, fleeing the ongoing armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). An estimated 53% are children. 26,772 have been registered so far (at Level 1). There are about 160,000 refugees and asylum seekers from the DRC in Burundi.
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The situation remains fluid, and as fighting continues in South Kivu, people continue to cross into Burundi. After a spike in new arrivals from 14-16 February, the number of new arrivals has reduced to a flow of approximately 200-300 per day. People continue to enter primarily from informal entry points in Cibitoke Province, including via the Rusizi River.
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As of 7 April 2025, 12,399 people have been relocated to the Musenyi refugee site, mainly from the transit centres in Cibitoke Province, since the beginning of 2025, bringing the total population of this site to 15,435. While exact numbers are difficult to ascertain, several thousand people are estimated to stay within the host communities in Rugombo and Cibitoke communes. The Government of Burundi identified an additional site in Bweru, Ruyigi Province. Road access to the site is an impediment.
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UNICEF organized and led a multi-sectoral assessment mission to Musenyi refugee site from 8 to 10 April, for all (sub-)sectors on which UNICEF is co-lead (WASH, education, nutrition and child protection) and with the participation of NGO partners as well as specialists on PSEA, inclusion and AAP. UNICEF health team also participated in a sectoral assessment mission to Musenyi and Bweru refugee sites from 2 to 4 April. These missions allowed us to monitor the implementation of recommendations from a small-scale assessment mission conducted at the end of March, notably in child protection, health, and WASH. The teams noted the strengthened (yet still insufficient) offer of socio-recreational and MHPSS activities for children, parents, and caregivers in Musenyi. Findings highlighted however persistent and urgent needs and gaps including a lack of educational opportunities for children and adolescents, a rupture in stock of nutritional supplies in the nearest health facility due to fuel shortage to ensure transport from the health district, insufficient healthcare staff and medicine, insufficient latrines and hygiene kits, a lack of alternative care options for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), and insufficient response services for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors.
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UNHCR is leading the overall response; while UNICEF is co-lead of the Education, Health and Nutrition, and WASH sectors and the Child Protection sub-sector according to the framework of the Refugee Coordination Model (RCM). UNICEF also co-leads the interagency working group on Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
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The Burundi Inter-agency Refugee Response Plan has been finalized and is expected to be adopted and launched with the Government of Burundi in April 2025.