90,000 Congolese Refugees in Burundi Grapple with Water Scarcity and Limited Healthcare

Breaking News

More than 90,000 DR Congo refugees in Burundi have sought safety, according to humanitarian agencies, as violence in teh Democratic Republic of Congo drives families across borders. Relief workers say access to clean water and basic health care remains severely constrained in host communities.

Residents and newcomers confront long waits for water, stretched clinic services, and scarce medicines as aid organizations intensify relief efforts amid limited funding.

Key Facts At A Glance

Factor	Details
Location Of Displacement	Burundi, neighboring contry to DR Congo
Number of Refugees	More than 90,000 people
Immediate Needs	Water access, basic health care, sanitation
Primary Challenges	Limited water supply, overcrowded clinics, limited medicines
Responding Bodies	UN agencies, international NGOs, local authorities

Evergreen context

Displacement crises in the Great Lakes region repeatedly reveal gaps in protection, water access, and health systems. even as families settle into temporary shelters, long‑term solutions depend on sustained funding, cross‑border cooperation, and investments in water, sanitation and health infrastructure. The situation underscores the importance of rapid, transparent aid coordination and community‑led response to preserve dignity for civilians fleeing danger.

For DR Congo refugees in Burundi and nearby communities, reliable access to clean water and essential health services remains a decisive factor in preventing disease outbreaks and protecting vulnerable groups, especially children and the elderly.

What Comes Next

Aid agencies emphasize the need for ongoing humanitarian funding, safer livelihoods, and stronger cross‑border coordination to avert a deeper crisis.Local leaders call for continued international attention and targeted support for clinics, water points, and mobile health teams.

Reader Engagement

• What additional steps should international donors take to improve water and health access for DR Congo refugees in Burundi?
• How can neighboring countries and international partners coordinate more effectively to support affected communities?

Disclaimer: This report provides general information and is not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. For health concerns, consult a qualified professional.

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Water Scarcity

Current Situation Overview

• Population: Approximately 90,000 Congolese refugees are residing in Burundi’s main displacement sites, including Kinyinya, Musasa, and Kiremba.
• Duration: Most arrivals occurred after the 2023 escalation of conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
• Humanitarian footprint: UNHCR,WHO,UNICEF,and several NGOs share obligation for water,sanitation,and health (WASH) services,but funding constraints limit coverage to roughly 62 % of the expected need (UNHCR 2025).

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Water Scarcity in Refugee Camps

Primary Water Sources

1. Seasonal rivers (e.g., Ruvubu): Provide raw water during the rainy season but dry up in the dry months.
2. Shallow boreholes: Operate at 15–25 m depth; many yield less than 5 L min⁻¹, insufficient for the UN‑HABITAT standard of 15 L person⁻¹ day⁻¹.
3. Truck‑delivered water: Covers emergency gaps but is costly and irregular.

Impact on Daily Life

• Average consumption: Refugees average 7 L person⁻¹ day⁻¹, well below the humanitarian minimum.
• Time burden: Women and children spend 2–4 hours daily collecting water, reducing time for education and income‑generating activities.
• Quality concerns: surface water frequently enough tests positive for E. coli (>200 CFU/100 mL) and Vibrio cholerae during outbreaks.

NGO Response & Practical Tips

• Current interventions: Solar‑powered pumps installed in Kinyinya (UNICEF 2024) have increased access by 30 %.
• best practices for NGOs:
• map water points using GPS and community input to identify coverage gaps.
• Implement low‑cost filtration (e.g., biosand filters) at household level; pilot projects in Musasa reduced diarrheal cases by 22 % (MSF 2025).
• Promote rainwater harvesting with 200‑L drums; training sessions have reached 4,800 households.

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Healthcare Access Challenges

Facility Capacity

• clinics: Only three primary health centers serve the 90,000 refugees, each staffed with 2‑3 nurses and a rotating physician.
• Patient load: Average daily consultations exceed 250, far above the WHO proposal of 30 patients provider⁻¹ day⁻¹.

Disease Burden

Condition	Reported Cases (2025)	% of Total Morbidity
Acute diarrheal disease	1,860	34 %
Malaria	1,210	22 %
Respiratory infections	970	18 %
Maternal complications	120	2 %

Maternal & Child Health

• Prenatal care: Only 48 % of pregnant women receive the recommended four antenatal visits.
• Child under‑5 mortality: Estimated at 52 per 1,000 live births, double Burundi’s national average (UNICEF 2025).

Real‑World Example – 2024 Cholera Outbreak

• Trigger: Contaminated river water after heavy rains.
• Response: WHO deployed a rapid‑response team; oral rehydration points were set up in Kinyinya, treating 3,400 patients within two weeks.
• Outcome: Case fatality rate dropped from 3.2 % (pre‑intervention) to 0.8 % after coordinated treatment and water chlorination.

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Intersection of Water Scarcity and Health

• Waterborne disease link: 67 % of diarrheal episodes correlate with periods of low water availability (UNHCR 2025).
• Hygiene gaps: Only 45 % of households have a functional hand‑washing station with soap, increasing infection risk.
• Mitigation measures:
• Point‑of‑use chlorination (Aquatabs) distributed to 12,000 families reduced E. coli levels by 85 % in pilot testing.
• Community health volunteers trained to educate on safe water storage; post‑training surveys show a 60 % enhancement in safe storage practices.

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Humanitarian Coordination & Funding Gaps

• Key actors: UNHCR (overall coordination), WHO (health services), UNICEF (WASH), International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (emergency water trucking).
• Funding shortage: The 2025 humanitarian appeal for Burundi’s refugee response raised US$85 million but received only 62 % of the target, leaving an estimated US$31 million gap for water and health services.
• Coordination mechanisms:

1. Joint Inter‑Agency Task Force (JIATF): Meets bi‑weekly to align water trucking schedules with health outreach.
2. Cluster meetings: WASH and Health clusters share data through a shared GIS dashboard, improving real‑time decision‑making.

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Recommendations & Practical Steps

Short‑Term Interventions (0‑6 months)

1. Scale up solar‑powered pumps in high‑need camps; target an additional 10 boreholes to achieve 80 % coverage.
2. Deploy mobile health units equipped with rapid diagnostic kits for cholera and malaria; aim for 500 additional consultations per week.
3. Distribute emergency water purification kits (chlorine tablets + containers) to 30 % of households lacking reliable water sources.

Long‑Term Solutions (6 months‑3 years)

• Invest in deep‑well infrastructure (≥50 m) to ensure year‑round water supply; feasibility studies indicate a 70 % success rate in the Burundi terrain.
• Establish a referral hospital within 20 km of the main refugee clusters to handle obstetric emergencies and severe malaria cases.
• Implement community‑led total sanitation (CLTS) programs to achieve 90 % latrine coverage and reduce open defecation.

Community‑Based Approaches

• Water committees: Form gender‑balanced committees to manage pump maintenance and fee collection, fostering ownership and sustainability.
• Health peer educators: Train refugee volunteers to conduct weekly hygiene workshops, focusing on hand‑washing, safe water storage, and malaria prevention.

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Key Takeaways for Stakeholders

• Prioritizing integrated WASH‑health interventions can cut water‑related disease incidence by up to 40 % (WHO 2025).
• Funding alignment with the joint inter‑agency plan is critical to close the US$31 million gap and sustain essential services.
• Empowering refugee-led committees ensures long‑term resilience and reduces dependence on external aid.