Concern in Burundi supporting refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo

Some 60 per cent of the camp’s occupants are children. The camp is overcrowded with an insufficient water supply, inadequate sanitation infrastructure like toilets and showers, and has overstretched health and nutrition services. These conditions are exposing the most vulnerable groups, especially children under five years of age, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, to heightened risks of disease, acute malnutrition and death. 

Since the beginning of 2026 Busuma camp has seen a very large number of refugees arrive due to escalations in violence related to conflict in the east of DRC. It is putting huge pressure on already limited humanitarian resources which is expected to worsen even further in the coming months due to international funding cuts.

“The situation in Busuma remains extremely concerning. Families who fled violence are now living in a site where basic services are stretched far beyond current capacity. Concern’s priority is to support those most at risk, especially young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and mothers with very young babies, while helping reduce the risk of malnutrition and disease,” said Yvan Trapet, Concern Country Director for Burundi and Rwanda.

Concern Worldwide is expanding its activities in the camp, to provide nutrition support to vulnerable pregnant and breastfeeding mothers at risk of malnutrition, and babies under six months old. 

It is also constructing toilets and showers to improve sanitation and reduce the risk of contracting disease and illness. This builds on Concern’s existing work supporting emergency nutrition services in the camp, with more than 19,500 children screened for acute malnutrition. 

Burundi is on the eastern border of DRC. Multiple ongoing conflicts in east DRC has driven thousands of people from their homes, seeking safety. To add to this, there is also currently a serious outbreak of Ebola in the same areas of DRC.

People are beginning to voluntarily return to eastern DRC despite the ongoing fragile situation. The poor conditions and lack of supports in Busuma camp has been identified as one of the key drivers behind the decision of many refugees to return, despite the risks.

Nutrition and health services, especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women, are severely limited. This is why Concern is focusing on these areas, in particular the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition. 

When someone is acutely malnourished, it is typically caused by not having enough to eat and is most common in children. It weakens the immune system, leaving those affected at high risk of dying from common illnesses as well as from malnutrition itself. 

Access to clean water and good sanitation are essential in preventing already very unwell people from becoming fatally ill.

Food insecurity is expected to worsen over the coming months in Busuma refugee camp. Due to international funding cuts, food rations have been reduced with currently no funding for food distribution after September 2026. People living in the camp depend almost entirely on these rations for food. 

The work is being funded through Irish Aid, World Food Programme, and Concern’s CEO fund, which is made up of donations from the Irish public. It’s essential in allowing Concern to respond rapidly to emergencies and crises, particularly in countries and regions that are not on the international agenda. 

Concern has been in Burundi since 1997, implementing programmes focusing on health, nutrition, livelihoods, and social protection. 

For further information contact Eilis Staunton, Media Relations Officer, Concern Worldwide, at eilis.staunton@concern.net or +353 85 872 0720