In Burundi, thousands of Congolese refugees who have fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are living in extremely precarious conditions in Musenyi, a displacement site where overcrowding and lack of access to hygiene are putting people at risk of disease. The camp is now housing more than double its intended capacity.
“I've been living in a shed since I arrived because there aren't enough shelters for everyone,” says Nathalie*, a refugee who arrived in February after fleeing the fighting in DRC. “Tarpaulins are given to large families to make shelters. But I live here and we sleep in this shed, without mattresses, with toads and moisture everywhere. We feel abandoned.”
Needs have quickly outpaced resources in Musenyi
Since the beginning of the year, thousands of people have fled fighting and insecurity in the provinces of North and South Kivu in DRC. Crossing the Rusizi River into Burundi, they have hastily set up camp in schools, sheds, churches, and stadiums in the province of Cibitoke on the border with South Kivu.
In March, the Burundian authorities and the UN Refugee Agency relocated the refugees to the Musenyi displacement site, which was established in 2024 in the southeast to provide basic facilities and services for up to 10,000 refugees.
The site's capacity was quickly overwhelmed: According to the UN Refugee Agency, by the end of April an estimated 18,000 refugees were living in Musenyi. Unsurprisingly, living conditions quickly became unbearable, creating health risks for adults and children.
Stagnant water is increasing disease risk
Built on poorly drained clay soil, the Musenyi site is particularly prone to flooding during the rainy season, which began at the end of April in Burundi. Although drainage channels have been dug, water is stagnating in many parts of the site, and people are trying to protect their shelters and communal latrines as best they can to prevent contamination from the dirty water.
“There is an urgent need to improve the living conditions on site, as all the elements for serious health problems are present,” warns Barbara Turchet, MSF's emergency coordinator in Burundi. “Given the hygiene conditions, we have started to set up isolation units as a preventive measure in case of a cholera outbreak. And to reduce the risk of malaria, which is exacerbated by the amount of stagnant water everywhere, we have distributed more than 8,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets and are planning long-term mosquito spraying at the site.”
Given the concentration of children at the site, MSF has also helped the health authorities organize a measles vaccination campaign, as several cases of this highly infectious but preventable disease have already been confirmed among the refugees.
“We set up four vaccination points,” Turchet continues. “We were able to vaccinate 8,500 children against measles and treat those who were infected. That's something, but we have to do more to improve the refugees' situation and protect their health.”
Essential services threatened by aid funding cuts
A few organizations other than MSF are also present to offer health care to people in Musenyi, but access to care is insufficient, according to many refugees.
“Here, refugees living with HIV have no access to treatment,” says Henri*, a refugee from South Kivu came to Musenyi from another displacement site in Burundi. “When we were in Rugombo, [also] in the province of Cibitoke, there was medical follow-up and treatment. But here, the health facilities don't offer this kind of care.”
In Musenyi, as in many other places today, humanitarian organizations are struggling to provide sufficient support as overall funding decreases. Several humanitarian agencies are unable to provide sufficient medical follow-up for patients in the clinics they support. Food distributions are also clearly inadequate, further increasing the vulnerability of families. The UN estimates that $76 million is required to meet the humanitarian needs of Congolese refugees in Burundi.
“The gravity of the situation is real and calls for more attention and support,” says Turchet. “We are doing our utmost and have extended our support to provide medical care for victims of sexual violence and psychosocial support for refugees suffering from mental health issues. But there are needs everywhere.”
* Names have been changed
