Burundi is struggling to cope with a rapid influx of over 40,000 refugees fleeing intensified fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UN has warned of an escalating humanitarian crisis as thousands arrive daily, many in urgent need of aid.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported that over 9,000 people crossed into Burundi in a single day last week, marking an unprecedented surge. “This is the first time Burundi has received this large number of people,” said Brigitte Mukanga-eno, UNHCR’s representative in Burundi.
The refugees are escaping renewed conflict in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group has launched its most significant offensive in over a decade. The fighting stems from longstanding ethnic and political tensions, as well as competition for Congo’s vast mineral wealth.
Rwanda has denied allegations from the DRC, UN, and Western governments that it is supporting M23 with arms and troops. Kigali claims it is defending itself against Hutu militias operating alongside the Congolese military.
The refugee crisis has put immense pressure on Burundi’s northwest regions, where many displaced people arrive injured or suffering from health issues like measles. Some, already displaced multiple times, struggle to survive. The UNHCR recounted the tragic case of a woman whose two children died from exhaustion shortly after reaching Burundi.
Since February 14, at least 36,000 people have crossed the Rusizi River on makeshift boats, while another 6,000 have entered via official border crossings in Bujumbura. Many are being temporarily sheltered in stadiums, schools, and churches.
The UNHCR has launched an emergency appeal for $40.4 million to support up to 258,000 displaced people across Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia. Plans are underway to relocate refugees to areas where they can receive humanitarian aid.
Burundi, which has deployed troops in eastern Congo for years, initially sent soldiers to target Burundian rebels. More recently, its forces have joined the fight against M23, further entangling the country in the region’s ongoing instability.
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Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, a global style icon and patron of Thai silk who helped revive the monarchy’s standing after World War II and later occasionally stepped into politics, has died aged 93, the Royal Household Bureau said on Saturday.
The U.S. allegedly carried out its first night strike of a regional counter-drug campaign in the Caribbean, killing six suspected "narco-terrorists" on a vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has condemned U.S. military operations against vessels in the Caribbean, which have resulted in dozens of deaths and heightened tensions in the region.
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