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The United Nations (UN) has said that at least 53 people who fled renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have died after seeking refuge in neighbouring Burundi.
The UN refugee agency said on Friday that 25 of the victims died from a cholera outbreak, while six others succumbed to anaemia and other complications linked to malnutrition.
It noted that investigations were ongoing, in collaboration with Burundi’s health ministry and other partners, to determine the causes of the remaining deaths.
More than 100,000 Congolese have crossed into Burundi since December, following intensified clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels in the border town of Uvira.
Jean Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu province, described the situation facing refugees in Burundi as one of “misery,” warning that it was a crisis largely ignored by the international community and the media.
Congo’s Ministry of State and Social Affairs said it had launched a humanitarian mission to support displaced Congolese in Burundi, supplying food, medicines, and other essential items.
However, refugees continue to face dire conditions, with limited access to food and clean water, and many are forced to live in makeshift shelters that offer little protection from harsh weather.
About half of those displaced are children under 18, the UN said, adding that women and pregnant women are among the most vulnerable.
Severe overcrowding in camps has also increased the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera, measles, and malaria.
