The UN appeals for $33.2 million to aid over 80,000 refugees who fled to Burundi after M23’s advance near Uvira in the Democratic Republic of Congo
NAIROBI: The United Nations has appealed for $33 million in urgent funding to assist more than 80,000 people who have fled to Burundi.
This follows the latest advance by Rwanda-backed militants in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The M23 armed group launched a new offensive in early December near the Burundian border after seizing Goma and Bukavu earlier this year.
The group took control of Uvira, a city of hundreds of thousands, on December 10, gaining control of the land border with Burundi.
Under US pressure, M23 said it would withdraw from Uvira, but some of its police and intelligence agents reportedly remained deployed there on Thursday.
“Following recent violent clashes in South Kivu, notably around Uvira… a significant influx of refugees has occurred since December 5,” said the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The UN agency estimates nearly 80,000 people have arrived through various entry points into Burundi.
The refugees include 71,989 Congolese and 8,000 Burundians, according to the UN.
The organisation expects a total of 90,000 new arrivals and launched an appeal for $33.2 million to host them in decent conditions.
It published a photo showing dozens of people camping under trees without any infrastructure.
On Tuesday, two Burundian officials estimated at least 85,000 people had fled the DRC in recent weeks.
Ezechiel Nibigira, the Burundian president of ECCAS, reported 25,000 refugees in Gatumba and nearly 40,000 in Buganda, most “completely destitute”.
The administrator of Rumonge, Augustin Minani, described a “catastrophic” situation with 20,000 to 25,000 refugees who “lack everything”.
Minani said “the vast majority are dying of hunger”.
The UN counted more than 200,000 displaced people last week due to the offensive, though it is unclear how many are now in Burundi. – AFP
