BUJUMBURA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian government has launched an emergency response plan to aid 70,000 Congolese who recently fled violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly following clashes in Uvira.
The statement was made on Wednesday by Burundian Minister of Interior, Community Development and Public Security Leonidas Ndaruzaniye after a joint meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation Edouard Bizimana, diplomats and development partners.
"The Burundian government needs at least 33 million U.S. dollars to support 76,015 DRC asylum seekers welcomed in Burundi since Dec. 5, 2025, due to the ongoing violence in eastern DRC," said Ndaruzaniye.
He officially issued an urgent appeal from the Burundian government for national and international solidarity to support ongoing efforts to address this humanitarian crisis.
According to him, during Dec. 5-16, Burundi registered 76,015 Congolese refugees, but only 12,786 have been relocated to the Busuma site in Ruyigi District, Buhumuza Province.
"This sudden influx is putting considerable pressure on existing infrastructure. The Musenyi refugee site in Burunga Province, southeastern Burundi, as well as transit sites and other refugee camps, have now reached their hosting capacity in terms of both infrastructure and logistics," he said.
Ndaruzaniye noted that the government, in collaboration with partners including the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees, is undertaking concrete actions to provide essential relief.
According to UN Resident Coordinator in Burundi Violet Kakyomya, the emergency response plan to support Congolese refugees in Burundi in critical situations requires approximately 33.1 million dollars for a four-month period. ■
