The UN World Food Programme has cut food rations as new refugees in need of aid place a significant strain on WFP food assistance programmes in Burundi.
Reports indicate that since January 2025, nearly 70,000 people – mainly women, children and the elderly – have fled fighting in DRC to Burundi, many making dangerous river crossings and walking long distances in search of safety.
More continue to arrive each day, adding to what is already the largest influx into Burundi in decades. Cross border movement into DRC’s other neighbours, including Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, is also increasing due to the escalating conflict in the country’s east and this threatens to worsen hunger across the region.
WFP’s Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Africa, Dragica Pajevic speaking to journalists confirmed that the number of refugees has doubled in the past few weeks. The increasing number of refugees places a strain on the supplies in the absence of funding to compliment the increase. “Refugees are arriving every day, some weighed down with hastily packed bundles and suitcases, and others with nothing but the clothes on their backs; the number of refugees has doubled in just a few weeks, but funding has not kept pace. Our available resources are stretched beyond capacity, and we are being forced to adapt our operations and reduce rations to reach as many people as possible.” he said.
60,000 out of the new refugees have been registered for food assistance, leaving 10,000 to be catered for out of the total refugee population. This will double WFP’s total refugee caseload to 120,000 in just a few weeks.
WFP is providing hot meals to the new Congolese refugees, who are housed in temporary transit camps, schools, churches and sports stadiums.
