https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250222/burundi-faces-humanitarian-strain-as-40000-drc-refugees-flee-escalating-violence-unhcr-says-1070775862.html
Burundi Faces Humanitarian Strain as 40,000 DRC Refugees Flee Escalating Violence, UNHCR Says
Burundi Faces Humanitarian Strain as 40,000 DRC Refugees Flee Escalating Violence, UNHCR Says
Sputnik Africa
Some 50,000 people, including IDPs, as well as rural and urban populations fleeing conflict, have arrived in Burundi from the Democratic Republic of Congo... 22.02.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-02-22T13:10+0100
2025-02-22T13:10+0100
2025-02-22T13:10+0100
m23 rebels offensive in dr congo (2025)
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The humanitarian situation in Burundi is worsening due to an influx of Congolese refugees fleeing escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Over 40,000 Congolese, mostly women and children, have arrived since February, with numbers expected to rise as fighting nears the border town of Uvira, close to the main official border crossing with Burundi, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) representative in Burundi Brigitte Mukanga-eno said.Amid the refugees' influx, the UNHCR and partners struggling to provide essential support, while many refugees lack shelter, food, and medical care. Schools and transit centers are overcrowded, and several measles cases have been reported. The UNHCR and partners are providing meals, water, and relief items, while vaccinations are underway to prevent disease spread.Refugees, many of whom have been internally displaced before, take dangerous routes, including crossing the Rusizi River, which forms the border between Rwanda and the DRC, in makeshift boats, the UN official noted.To address the crisis, the UNHCR seeks $40.4 million to assist 275,000 internally displaced persons in the DRC and up to 258,000 refugees in the region. Urgent international support is critical to meet growing needs and prevent further deterioration as the crisis intensifies, Mukanga-eno added.Meanwhile, the UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning Rwanda's support for the M23 rebels and calling on Kigali to withdraw its troops from the DRC.The resolution strongly condemned all attacks directed against civilians and infrastructure, including UN, humanitarian and medical personnel and also demanded all parties to allow and facilitate safe, immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need, as well as the restoration of basic services such as healthcare, water, electricity and communications.Furthermore, the council reaffirmed full support to the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).Ahead of the council's meeting, MONUSCO's head Bintou Keita condemned brutal activities of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the eastern DRC and called for immediate end of hostilities in the region.Amid the escalating violence in the Congolese North Kivu province, the European Union summoned the Rwandan ambassador to the EU on Friday to protest the suspected presence of its troops in the neighboring DRC.The ongoing conflict in North Kivu was also on the agenda of a meeting of the chiefs of defense forces of the East African Community (EAC), who met in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Friday to address the escalating security crisis in eastern DRC, Kenyan Ministry of Defense said.The meeting was organized following a directive from the joint EAC-Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State Summit earlier this month in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.Guided by six key directives - namely, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and cessation of hostilities; the provision of humanitarian assistance; the opening of key supply routes; the development of a security plan for Goma and surrounding areas; the immediate reopening of Goma airport; and advice on other facilitating measures - the EAC chiefs of defense agreed on actionable recommendations to be presented to the joint EAC-SADC chiefs of defense meeting scheduled for next Monday in Dar es Salaam.Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni also denied reports that his troops intended to help the DRC fight the M23 rebels in the east of the country after sending troops to the eastern Congolese town of Bunia.This week, the Ugandan army sent troops to Bunia, citing "massacres of the population by militias" as justification, according to a military spokesperson.On Friday, Museveni clarified that the presence of Ugandan People's Defense Force troops in the DRC is not related to the fight against the M23 rebels.From the beginning of the conflict between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels, Uganda promoted pursuing negotiations, Museveni emphasized.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250222/un-security-council-adopts-resolution-calling-on-rwanda-to-withdraw-forces-from-drc-1070773110.html
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Burundi Faces Humanitarian Strain as 40,000 DRC Refugees Flee Escalating Violence, UNHCR Says
Elizaveta Roschina
Writer/Editor
Longread
Some 50,000 people, including IDPs, as well as rural and urban populations fleeing conflict, have arrived in Burundi from the Democratic Republic of Congo since January, bringing the total number of Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in the East African country to 128,000, according to figures released on Wednesday by the UN refugee agency.
The humanitarian situation in Burundi is worsening due to an influx of Congolese refugees fleeing escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Over 40,000 Congolese, mostly women and children, have arrived since February, with numbers expected to rise as fighting nears the border town of Uvira, close to the main official border crossing with Burundi, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) representative in Burundi Brigitte Mukanga-eno said.
"Last week more than 9,000 people crossed in one day ... This is the first time Burundi has received this large number of people," Mukanga-eno told reporters on Friday.
Amid the refugees' influx, the UNHCR and partners struggling to provide essential support, while many refugees lack shelter, food, and medical care. Schools and transit centers are overcrowded, and several measles cases have been reported. The UNHCR and partners are providing meals, water, and relief items, while vaccinations are underway to prevent disease spread.
Refugees, many of whom have been internally displaced before, take dangerous routes, including crossing the Rusizi River, which forms the border between Rwanda and the DRC, in makeshift boats, the UN official noted.
To address the crisis, the UNHCR seeks $40.4 million to assist 275,000 internally displaced persons in the DRC and up to 258,000 refugees in the region. Urgent international support is critical to meet growing needs and prevent further deterioration as the crisis intensifies, Mukanga-eno added.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council on Friday unanimously
adopted a resolution condemning Rwanda's support for the M23 rebels and calling on Kigali to withdraw its troops from the DRC.
"The hostilities must end, lives must be saved, ordinary people must be able to return to their homes," Russian ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia stated, adding that Kigali and Kinshasa must, once again, sit at the negotiating table.
The resolution strongly condemned all attacks directed against civilians and infrastructure, including UN, humanitarian and medical personnel and also demanded all parties to allow and facilitate safe, immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need, as well as the restoration of basic services such as healthcare, water, electricity and communications.
Furthermore, the council reaffirmed full support to the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
Ahead of the council's meeting, MONUSCO's head Bintou Keita condemned brutal activities of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the eastern DRC and called for immediate end of hostilities in the region.
"MONUSCO also strongly condemns the continued activities and atrocities committed by the ADF, whose brutal attacks on civilians have caused immense suffering in eastern DRC," Keita told a briefing.
Amid the escalating violence in the Congolese North Kivu province, the European Union summoned the Rwandan ambassador to the EU on Friday to protest the suspected presence of its troops in the neighboring DRC.
"The European Union has today summoned the ambassador of Rwanda to the EU due to the ongoing offensive of the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and M23 in the eastern DRC. The EU strongly condemns this offensive, which constitutes a violation of the ceasefire decided under the auspices of the Luanda process and a continued use of force against the DRC’s territorial integrity. The government of Rwanda must immediately withdraw all RDF troops from the DRC territory and stop supporting the M23 and any other armed group," the EU said in a statement.
The ongoing conflict in North Kivu was also on the agenda of a meeting of the chiefs of defense forces of the East African Community (EAC), who met in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Friday to address the escalating security crisis in eastern DRC, Kenyan Ministry of Defense
said.The meeting was organized following a directive from the joint EAC-Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State Summit earlier this month in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Guided by six key directives - namely, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and
cessation of hostilities; the provision of humanitarian assistance; the opening of key supply routes; the development of a security plan for Goma and surrounding areas; the immediate reopening of Goma airport; and advice on other facilitating measures - the EAC chiefs of defense agreed on actionable recommendations to be presented to the joint EAC-SADC chiefs of defense meeting scheduled for next Monday in Dar es Salaam.
"Our collective resolve and collaborative spirit during these deliberations reflect the strength and unity of the EAC in pursuing regional peace and stability. I commend you all for your thorough analysis and actionable recommendations, which have significantly influenced our strategic decisions," chairman of the meeting, Kenya's Chief of the Defense Forces General Charles Kahariri noted.
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni also denied reports that his troops intended to help the DRC fight the M23 rebels in the east of the country after sending troops to the eastern Congolese town of Bunia.
This week, the Ugandan army
sent troops to Bunia, citing "massacres of the population by militias" as justification, according to a military spokesperson.
On Friday, Museveni clarified that the presence of Ugandan People's Defense Force troops in the DRC is not related to the fight against the M23 rebels.
"With the mandate of the East African Force cancelled by the Congo government, the UPDF [] remained with the two tasks: to fight the ADF alongside the Congo Army and to protect the Construction of the Kasindi-Beni-Butembo Road. With the deteriorating security situation in Eastern Congo, we secured the permission of the Congo government to deploy in Lubero, near Butembo and Bunia, to the North of our operational area. Our presence in Congo, therefore, has nothing to do with fighting the M-23 rebels," the Ugandan president said on X.
From the beginning of the conflict between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels, Uganda promoted pursuing negotiations, Museveni emphasized.
