The situation
Violence surrounding upcoming presidential elections in Burundi have resulted in people fleeing to neighbouring countries. Refugees are crossing daily into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) seeking refuge in Fizi, Uvira and Walungu areas of South Kivu Province.
New arrivals are mostly being hosted by other Burundian refugee families, who arrived in 2010, while others are accommodated in makeshift sites (Lubarika, Luvungi and Sange). They are gradually being transferred to the new camp at Fizi / Lusenda, about 60 km from the town of Uvira and 30 km from Baraka.
These refugees entered and continue to enter the DRC through different points including:
Kamanyola border in Walungu, via Rwanda;
The Ruzizi River which borders Burundi (Ndunda, Ngendo, Rusabage, Kaberagule, Kiliba villages etc.) via canoe;
Kavinvira border at Uvira Centre, later passing through to the Ruzizi plain to settled in various localities such as: Kiliba, Sange, Luvungi and Lubarika , right up to Kamanyola.
Fizi territory, via the towns of Swima, Nundu, Baraka, and the Ubwari peninsula, crossing Lake Tanganyika aboard canoes.