Escalating Violence in Eastern DR Congo Drives Mass Exodus to Burundi: A Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com January 7, 2026 – As renewed fighting intensifies in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), tens
By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com
January 7, 2026 – As renewed fighting intensifies in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), tens of thousands of terrified civilians are fleeing across the border into neighboring Burundi, exacerbating one of Africa’s most protracted humanitarian emergencies. Reports from aid agencies and eyewitnesses paint a grim picture of overcrowded camps, acute shortages, and rising health risks amid the ongoing conflict involving the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 80,000 Congolese have crossed into Burundi in recent weeks alone, with the influx beginning in early December 2025 following M23 advances in South Kivu province. This has pushed the total number of Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers in Burundi beyond 200,000, overwhelming local resources and transit centers.
“The situation has reached a critical point,” said Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, UNHCR’s Representative in Burundi. “Thousands are arriving daily on foot or by boat, exhausted and traumatized. Women and children are particularly vulnerable, many bearing the scars of violence and having gone days without food.”
The latest wave of displacement was triggered by M23’s offensive, which saw the rebels capture strategic towns including Uvira near the Burundi border, despite a US-brokered peace deal signed in December 2025 between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of continuing to support M23, allegations Rwanda denies.
Inside Burundi, conditions in camps like Cishemere, Ndava, and Busuma are dire. Transit sites are operating at nearly 200% capacity, with severe shortages of water, sanitation facilities, food, and medicine. The rainy season has compounded hardships, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks such as cholera and Mpox.
Aid organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), report treating hundreds daily for malnutrition, injuries, and illnesses. Pregnant women giving birth en route or in clinics highlight the desperation. “We are seeing catastrophic levels of need,” an MSF coordinator stated from Ndava transit site.
Burundian authorities have relocated some arrivals to sites further inland, such as Ruhigi, but complaints persist about inadequate assistance and exposure to harsh weather.
The broader conflict in eastern DRC – involving over 100 armed groups – has displaced more than seven million internally and forced over one million to seek refuge abroad. Mineral-rich regions like North and South Kivu remain hotspots, with accusations of resource exploitation fueling the violence.
International response has included emergency funding: Japan recently contributed over $625,000 to WFP for food aid, while the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund allocated millions in late 2025. However, UNHCR warns that without swift additional support – estimating a need for $47.2 million in the coming months – aid delivery will falter.
As fighting shows no signs of abating despite ceasefire calls, the spillover into Burundi risks destabilizing the region further. Humanitarian actors urge renewed diplomatic efforts to address root causes, including alleged foreign backing of rebels, while prioritizing protection for civilians caught in the crossfire.
This crisis underscores the urgent need for global attention to prevent further suffering in the Great Lakes region. Juba Global News Network will continue monitoring developments.
Sources: UNHCR, Al Jazeera, BBC, Reuters, Vatican News, WFP
