CDH/VICAR expresses its profound concern over the
rapidly deteriorating security
and humanitarian situation of Burundian refugees living in Lusenda Refugee Camp,
South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. This alarming situation
follows the capture of the city of Uvira by the armed group M23, an event
that has severely destabilized the region and placed already vulnerable
refugees in extreme danger.
Since these developments, refugees have been living in a climate of fear and
total insecurity. Credible testimonies collected by CDH/VICAR report
forced displacement, desperate and dangerous escape attempts, and an acute lack
of food and humanitarian assistance. Stripped of protection and support,
refugees—who are innocent civilians—have been left to fend for themselves under
life-threatening conditions.
CDH/VICAR strongly condemns the absence of effective security
measures in and around Lusenda Refugee Camp. The prolonged silence
of the National Commission for Refugees (CNR), combined with the inaction of UNHCR and other
humanitarian actors, has significantly worsened the situation. To date,
no clear security guarantees or emergency protection measures have been
communicated to the refugee population, despite the escalating risks.
The presence of local armed
groups, notably the Wazalendo, in surrounding areas further heightens
the risk of violence, abuse, and serious human rights violations. In response,
CDH/VICAR urgently calls on the Government of the DRC to fulfill its legal
obligations, urges UNHCR and partners to deploy an immediate and coordinated
intervention, and appeals to the international community to exert diplomatic
pressure to prevent further harm. Refugees must not become hostages of regional
instability. States
must uphold their commitments.
