UNICEF: Tens of Thousands of Children Flee Violence in Burundi

NEW YORK (May 18, 2015) — Approximately 100,000 people, the vast majority of whom are women and children, have fled violent clashes in Burundi to neighboring Great Lakes countries including Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The number of refugees is expected to rise, as the situation in Burundi remains volatile.

“Many of the children arriving at the borders are in poor health, are unaccompanied or have been separated from their families,” said Leila Gharagozloo-Pakkala, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. “They are in urgent need of basic shelter, food, health and protection services.”

• In Tanzania, over 70,000 refugees have arrived. The majority of them are currently gathering at the Kagunga reception area, where they are slowly being transported to the Nyarugusu camp first by boat, then by truck.
• In Rwanda, the majority of the 26,000 
Burundian refugees are being hosted at the Mahama camp.
• The DRC has seen an influx of more 9,000 refugees and most are being accommodated in host families, while a small number are in transit sites.

Refugees at transit sites in Tanzania and DRC are at particular risk of disease outbreaks, such as cholera, due to very poor sanitary and living conditions. UNICEF is working to improve the sanitation in these areas, in addition to providing water purification kits and buckets to families.

Most of the children arriving require special protection services. UNICEF and partners are registering and caring for unaccompanied and separated children.

In each of the affected countries, UNICEF is on the ground working with partners to provide basic healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation, child protection and education services. As more refugees arrive, there is an urgent need to scale up life-saving services.

About UNICEFThe United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

CONTACTSusannah Masur, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212-880-9146, smasur@unicefusa.org