Attachments
Situation Update
- 70,420(1) people have crossed 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(2).
- 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 20- 80 per day. People continue to enter primarily from informal entry points in Cibitoke Province, including via the Rusizi River.
- As of 21 April 2025, 12,868 people have been relocated to the Musenyi refugee site, mainly from the transit centres in Cibitoke Province, since the start of the year, bringing the total population of this site to 15,904. 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 and the administrative process of attribution to UNHCR is in progress.
- 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).
- The Burundi Inter-Agency Refugee Response Plan has been finalized and is expected to be adopted and launched with the Government of Burundi soon.
UNICEF Response
- The UNICEF Burundi CO activated an immediate response while finalizing its multi-sectoral Refugee Response Plan (8 months, from February to September 2025) and enhancing preparedness measures for a worsening situation (ongoing, significant influx)
- UNHCR, CORE, 21 April 2025.
- Ibid.