UNFPA Burundi supporting Congolese Refugees

UNFPA contributes to the emergency response in Burundi with other UN humanitarian agencies, local partner organizations, and INGOs. 

Since January 2025, more than 64,000 people have crossed into Burundi from the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The displaced include both rural and urban populations fleeing conflict, internally displaced persons from the DRC, and Burundians returning from transit points or cross-border work.

Recognizing its limited financial and logistical capacity to meet the growing needs, the Government of Burundi has appealed for urgent support from national and international partners to address this escalating crisis. The influx is expected to continue as fighting draws closer to the border city of Uvira. Of the new arrivals, approximately 56,588 people are in urgent need of international protection and immediate humanitarian assistance. This new influx further strains an already critical situation, adding to an existing refugee population of 89,443 and 2,040 asylum seekers—primarily from the DRC—56,000 of whom are hosted across five established camps in Burundi.