RUYIGI, Feb 24 (ABP) – The Busuma camp for Congolese refugees received, on Sunday, February 22, 2026, a significant consignment of humanitarian aid from Buhumuza province: 22 tons of dried cassava, 14 tons of beans, 7 tons of maize and 6,000 bars of soap.
The initiative aimed to relieve refugees facing difficult living conditions and to strengthen hygiene at the site, it was learned on the spot.
During the handover of the aid, the governor of Buhumuza province, Denise Ndaruhekere, recalled that the assistance had been collected across the province’s seven communes. “We gathered these products to support our refugee brothers and sisters, while awaiting support from humanitarian partners. We urge you to use these goods carefully and to maintain good hygiene to protect your health,” she declared. She also called for calm and patience, recalling that decisions concerning the repatriation of refugees should be tripartite and voluntary, that is, coordinated by the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, those of Burundi and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “It is essential that any return be carried out in an organized and secure manner, in the interest of the refugees and the stability of the camp,” she insisted, reassuring that in the meantime, the Burundian State reaffirms its commitment to guaranteeing the safety and peace of the refugees. She assured that all necessary measures will be taken to protect the camp’s residents.
In his welcoming remarks, Fiacre Nkunzimana, coordinator of the province’s four refugee camps: Bwagiriza, Nyankanda, Kavumu and Busuma, described the situation at the Busuma camp as particularly precarious. “This camp has experienced a spontaneous and massive arrival of refugees over a very short period and now hosts more than 65,000 refugees. This situation has put strong pressure on available resources,” he explained. He also warned of tensions and risky behaviors. “Some refugees, having run out of patience, engage in acts of violence to seize food rations. Others leave the camp for temporary outings, while some even attempt to leave the camp clandestinely. This complicates daily management and requires constant vigilance,” he stressed.
Despite these difficulties, the refugees expressed their gratitude for the gesture of solidarity from Buhumuza province. Several of them stated that these products, although insufficient to cover all needs, represent vital support for families living in the camp.
As a reminder, the Busuma camp hosts more than 65,000 Congolese refugees who fled violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and the demographic pressure remains significant, increasing the precariousness and fragility of the humanitarian situation.