Burundi

Burundi is facing one of its most difficult moments in decades. More than 100,000 refugees have sought safety within its borders, most fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Between 60,000 and 90,000 of them have arrived recently, crowding into places like Busuma, where families struggle daily to find enough food, clean water, and a safe place to sleep. At the same time, over 300,000 Burundian refugees have returned home since 2017, hoping to rebuild their lives. Both refugees and returnees now find themselves in a situation where even the most basic necessities are scarce. In the northeast, Gasorwe Refugee Camp stands as a stark example of this growing crisis. Established in 2002 and now home to around eleven thousand people, the camp is overwhelmed. Food is insufficient, water is limited, sanitation is poor, and infrastructure is crumbling. Children struggle to access education. Families live with constant uncertainty. The arrival of new refugees from the DR Congo, combined with the return of Burundian refugees, has stretched the camp’s limited resources beyond capacity. To make matters worse, many humanitarian organizations have been forced to close or scale back their services due to funding shortages. For the people living in Gasorwe, the future feels increasingly fragile and unclear.