The United Nations refugee agency says at least 53 Congolese refugees who fled renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have died in neighbouring Burundi, with cholera and malnutrition-related complications driving much of the death toll as overcrowded transit sites struggle to cope with a massive influx.
UNHCR told Reuters late Friday that 25 people died from a cholera outbreak, while six others died from anaemia and other complications linked to malnutrition. The agency said it is working with Burundi’s health authorities and other partners to determine the causes of the remaining deaths.
The deaths come as more than 100,000 Congolese have sought refuge in Burundi since early December, when clashes between Congolese forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels intensified around the border town of Uvira, triggering panic and displacement across South Kivu province.
According to UNHCR operational reporting, the influx has been sustained since Dec. 5, with thousands crossing through multiple entry points including Buganda, Gatumba and Rumonge. The agency said tracking systems are in place, but needs are rising quickly and require urgent mobilisation for registration and assistance.
Aid officials describe particularly harsh conditions for new arrivals. Many refugees have limited access to clean water, food and sanitation, and a significant number are living in makeshift shelters that offer little protection from the weather. UNHCR says children and women, including pregnant women, are among the most vulnerable, with reports indicating that about half of those displaced are under 18.
Public health risks are growing as sites become severely congested. UNHCR warns that overcrowding and poor sanitation heighten the danger of cholera, as well as other communicable diseases including measles and malaria, particularly among children weakened by hunger and exhaustion after crossing the border.
The displacement into Burundi reflects wider instability in eastern Congo, where armed groups have expanded their reach and civilians have been uprooted in large numbers. In recent weeks, reporting from the region has described a climate of fear in Uvira and surrounding areas, with residents limiting movement as M23 fighters consolidate positions and the conflict edges closer to neighbouring countries.
UN agencies have appealed for increased support for water, sanitation, shelter, and emergency health services, warning that without rapid scale-up the combination of disease and malnutrition could push the toll higher.
