A desperate humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Burundi, where at least 53 refugees who fled fighting in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo have died.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, the deaths are a direct result of the dire conditions in overcrowded camps, with a cholera outbreak claiming 25 lives and at least six others succumbing to anemia and complications from malnutrition.
The UN is currently investigating the cause of the remaining deaths.
This tragedy is part of a larger crisis that began in early December when intensifying conflict and the seizure of the town of Uvira by rebels forced more than 100,000 Congolese to seek safety in Burundi.
The massive influx has overwhelmed local resources, leading to what one Congolese governor described as “misery” and a “crisis completely forgotten by the international community.”
In response, the Congolese government has organized a humanitarian mission to provide food and medicine, while aid agencies are calling for urgent international support to prevent further loss of life.
