Since the escalation of violence in South Kivu province in the DRC, around 88,000 refugees have fled to Burundi according to UNHCR. More than 37,000 of them crossed the Rusizi River in the northeast of the country, and were settled in the Ndava transit site, Kansega, Cibitoke.

MSF treats an average of 200 patients every day in the mobile clinic and is referring the more complicated cases to the Cibitoke district hospital, where a part of the team ensures the continuity of care. Our team is providing 25,000 litres of water per day and is building latrine blocks and showers to reduce epidemiological risks and to help the population in dire need.

The refugees have built makeshift shelters that are not weatherproof, sleep on the ground without blankets and have insufficient food. They are in a state of distress, despair and exhaustion and are waiting to be relocated to the east of the country, to the Bweru long term site, where more than 29,000 have arrived. MSF is supporting a cholera treatment center there, with a capacity of 50 beds.

The overcrowding and dire living conditions increase the risk of epidemics such as measles and cholera. The lack of hygene, clean water and sanitation are a serious concern in the camps as more people arrive everyday. In Ndava transit camp, 42% of malaria tests carried out during the last days were positive. MSF teams have treated 14 confirmed cases of cholera and have seen one suspected case of measles.

While the authorities and actors present in Burundi are overwhelmed with the situation, MSF is scaling up its emergency medical response across the country with support to the cholera and measles response, vaccination, and water and sanitation.