UNHCR says more than 105,000 refugees have fled violence in Burundi
The UN refugee agency has hired a ferry to help more than 50,000 refugees who are facing dire conditions in a border village on Lake Tanganyika
GENEVA, 15 May (UNHCR) - The UN refugee agency said on Friday that more than 105,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries to escape political violence in Burundi, with many now trapped in dire conditions in a border village on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
"While the coup attempt is reported to have been foiled, the situation in Burundi's capital Bujumbura remains tense with sporadic outbursts of violence reported this morning," Karin de Gruijl, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, told a news conference.
"Over 105,000 people have now fled the country, with 70,187 in neighbouring Tanzania, 26,300 in Rwanda and 9,183 to the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
UNHCR said the number of arrivals in Tanzania had risen sharply in recent days, with authorities reporting that over 50,000 Burundians are living rough in Kagunga, a border village on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. De Gruijl said there are reports that at least another 10,000 people are waiting to cross into Tanzania.
Kagunga is a small village on the border between Burundi and Tanzania that is best reached by boat because of a steep mountain range on the Tanzanian side.
UNHCR chartered the ageing ferry MV Liemba on 3 May to transfer refugees from Kagunga to Kigoma. However the ferry can carry only 600 people and a transfer takes up to 10 hours, with fishing boats needed to move refugees between the small dock and the ferry.
"We have now identified a second ship that can carry up to 300 people, but that will not be able to operate at night," de Gruijl said. "We are also currently verifying a mountain track that some of refugees could take to leave Kagunga."
After a four-hour walk though the mountains, refugees would spend a night at a temporary UNHCR camp before moving by bus to Nyanrugusu refugee camp, she said.
"With the rapidly increasing number of people arriving in Kagunga, the living conditions have become extremely dire. People managed to bring some food and can fish in the lake, but the lack of clean drinking water, latrines and shelter is acute," the spokesperson said.
"The local health services in the village are overwhelmed. We are now setting up a reception centre to address the most urgent needs. We are also fast-tracking the transfer of pregnant women, children, elderly and sick refugees to Kigoma."
In Kigoma, authorities have made a stadium available to accommodate the refugees before they go to Nyarugusu refugee camp. With the help of local partners, UNHCR has turned the stadium into a large transit centre where refugees will stay a few days while being registered and receiving medical care before being transferred to the refugee camp.
Seventeen trucks with thousands of tents, plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans, solar lamps and other basic relief items from UNHCR regional warehouses are expected to arrive in Kigoma on Sunday, as UNHCR and its partners gear up for a large-scale refugee emergency. More than 18,000 refugees have been moved to the refugee camp so far.
Refugees from Burundi also continue to arrive in Rwanda, although the rate has decreased in the last two weeks, de Gruijl said. "Refugees report that authorities in Burundi have made it very difficult for people to leave the country. According to those who have managed to reach Rwanda in the last few days, there are roadblocks and checkpoints where police or militia prevent people from continuing their journey towards Rwanda."
Rwanda is currently hosting more than 26,300 Burundian refugees, most living in Mahama refugee camp. In addition, UNHCR plans next week to start registering the undetermined number of Burundians who have settled in urban areas.
Related news and stories
Across borders, South Sudan's displaced call for peace
UNHCR concerned by conflict's toll on hundreds of thousands displaced in eastern DR Congo
As security worsens in DR Congo, UNHCR and partners seek US$605 million to assist Congolese refugees across Africa
UNHCR's Grandi lauds progress in Burundian refugee returns, urges more support
A refugee baker from Congo builds his business in Burundi
'Now, this is bread'.
Your search for « burundi » matched 3542 results. Only the first 1,000 results are displayed. Displaying page 2 of 112 pages.
-
Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan Jan-Dec 2016
15 Dec 2015 ... 1 BURUNDI SITUATION REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE PLAN January – December 2016 December 2015 2 Cover ... refugees 6 Introduction The civil unrest in Burundi has led to an outflow of over 210,000 refugees ...... -
2017 Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan - January - December 2017 (22 December 2016)
22 Dec 2016 ... 1 BURUNDI REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE PLAN January – December 2017 December 2016 2 Cover photograph: ... economic situation in Burundi in April 2015 has led to refugee outflows to neighbouring countries. ...... -
UNHCR Burundi Situation revised Supplementary appeal - January - December 2016 (July 2016)
19 Jul 2016 ... BURUNDI SITUATION Supplementary Appeal January - December 2016 Revised (July 2016) 1 Cover ... and coordination 6 PLANNED RESPONSE 7 BURUNDI 7 Existing response 7 Strategy and ...... -
Revised Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan Apr-Sept. 2015 (August 2015)
6 Aug 2015 ... 1 x Revised Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan April – September 2015 August 2015 2 Cover ... on 22 May, the situation on the ground in Burundi and in the region was already of great concern. ...... -
UNHCR's Revised Burundi Situation Emergency Response Supplementary Appeal - April - December 2015 (10 August 2015)
10 Aug 2015 ... 1 Burundi Situation Emergency Response Revised (10 August 2015) April – December 2015 ......... 8 BURUNDI ......... -
2017 Mid-Year Review Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan - January - December 2017
Sep 2017 ... BURUNDI REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE PLAN MID YEAR REVISION JANUARY - DECEMBER 2017 CREDITS UNHCR ... All statistics are provisional and subject to change. For more information on the Burundi crisis go ...... -
Burundi: Nearly 1,200 flee for Tanzania since beginning September
20 Sep 2002 ... with no shelter on the Burundi side of the border. Many of the recent arrivals are fleeing the ongoing fighting in the provinces of Ruyigi and Rutana in eastern Burundi and in Gitega, central Burundi. ...... -
Burundi to set up refugee camp for new Congolese arrivals following deadly attack
16 Aug 2004 ... BUJUMBURA, Burundi, Aug 16 (UNHCR) - The hundreds of empty ammunition shells scattered around burned ... their children with their bodies. A nearby Burundi army base also came under attack, but a ...... -
Burundi struggles to cope with Congolese influx
24 Oct 2012 ... BUJUMBURA, Burundi, October 24 (UNHCR) - While tens of thousands of Congolese refugees have fled to ... have been fleeing from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and seeking shelter in Burundi. ......