Refugee Influx to DRC from Burundi | Situation Update | 17 June 2015

UNICEF DRC / 2015 / Seck

Democratic
Republic of
the Congo
Situation in Numbers

10,044

Highlights

people were registered as refugees

from Burundi as of 09 June.

As of 09 June, 10,044 people were registered as refugees from

7,944
refugees settled within host families.

70,693
children aged between six and 59
months were vaccinated against
measles with UNICEF support
between 30 May and 05 June.

80,584
aged between zero and 59 months
were vaccinated against polio with
UNICEF support between 30 May
and 05 June.

2,500
UNICEF partner Caritas conducts
distribution of essential household
items to 2,500 refugee and host
families in the Ruzizi plain.

10
chlorination points opened on the
rivers Kavimvira, Kalimabenge and
Mulongwe and on the Tanganyika
Lake, thanks to Oxfam GB, as part of
cholera prevention activities funded
by UNICEF.

Burundi, an increase of 121 persons compared to 03 June. 7,944

people among them settled within host families, 1,454 people were
placed on Lusenda refugee site, 646 people remain in Kamvivira,
Sange and Monge transit sites.
The Burundian Government informed DRC embassy of their plan to

launch an information campaign to encourage Burundians to return to

their country, but UNHCR considers conditions to return are not met.
Four refugees in the Ruzizi plain area died due to malaria. Refugee

families receive Long lasting insecticidal nets upon arrival on Lusenda

site.
On 20 June South Kivu Governor and UNHCR Regional

Representative will visit Lusenda site to mark the World Refugee Day.
UNICEF supported in the affected region between 30 May and 05

June the vaccination of 70,693 children aged between six and 59

months against measles and 80,584 children aged between zero and
59 months against polio. During that same period 1,055 patients
including 379 refugees were treated in health areas.

For more information

Pascal Villeneuve, Representative, pvilleneuve@unicef.org
Aude Rigot, Chief of Emergencies, arigot@unicef.org
Yves Willemot, Chief of Communication, ywillemot@unicef.org

Refugee Influx to DRC from Burundi | Situation Update

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Rapid Response to the Movement of Population (RRMP) assessments were conducted in areas where
Burundian refugees settled: Luvungi Lubarika, Sange Kavivira, Mboko and Lusenda.

Non Food Items and Shelter

According to RRMP assessments, refugee and host families suffer a serious lack of household items in Uvira
Territory. Most refugees are living in bad conditions and are lacking space in host families. Refugees also settle
in spontaneous sites and classrooms. Relationships between the host families and refugees tend to deteriorate.
The need for essential household items and shelters will be covered with CERF and Pooled Fund allocations.

WASH
WASH-assessments have confirmed the very low rate of family hygienic sanitation coverage in host
communities. There is no coverage in hygienic latrine at all in Sange Lubarika, Luvungi, Sange,Kavimvira and
Lusenda). The diarrhoea rate is less alarming with an average of 32%, except in Luvungi and Lusenda where
the rates grow to respectively 40% and with 50%. Discussions are ongoing with Oxfam GB for the integration of
family sanitation package and hygiene promotion in its Pooled Fund - funded project.

Education
All refugee children aged between six and 11 years in Lusenda and 93.3% displaced and refugee children in
Sange are out of school.

Health
Multisectoral assessments conducted from 01 to 05 June by the health partners of the Rapid Response to
Movement of Population programme of UNICEF indicated that free health care was not provided to refugees.
Access to health care is difficult for the refugees. They only turn to health care facilities in serious cases.
Refugees mainly suffer from fever, diarrhoea and cough.

Child Protection
Some separated children are reported to stay with church leaders and studying in primary schools in the Ruzizi
plain in Uvira territory. UNICEF partner AVREO and other child protection actors continue with the verification of
unaccompanied and separated children identified by UNHCR in the territories of Uvira and Fizi. Apart from
unaccompanied children given support by AVREO, UNHCR in collaboration with child protection partners, will
give care and support to some children in Lusenda site with CERF funds. UNICEF through the Child protection
working group coordinates response on the ground in Fizi and Uvira.

Humanitarian Leadership and Coordination

The needs analysis and the global response strategy are being discussed at two levels:
Level One: OCHA cluster coordination system is implemented since there is a mixed situation with
refugees in host families in an area where there are former IDPs. Clusters contributed to updating OCHA
contingency plan approved by inter-cluster committee and the Inter-agency provincial committee (CPIA).
Level Two: UNHCR has introduced so-called coordination meetings every Wednesday. In these meetings,
UNHCR shares information mainly on: (1) planning of refugees relocation from the Ruzizi plain to Lusenda and
(2) assistance needs on Lusenda site.

Refugee Influx to DRC from Burundi | Situation Report #2 17 June 2015

Refugee Influx to DRC from Burundi | Situation Update

Summary Analysis of Programme Response
WASH
With UNICEF funds, Oxfam GB continues cholera prevention activities in the area of Uvira with 10 chlorination
points opened on the rivers Kavimvira, Kalimabenge and Mulongwe and on the Tanganyika Lake. Awareness
campaign and rehabilitation of water supply system is being conducted by the UNICEF partner OXFAM from 15
June in Sange and Kamanyola. Discussions are underway with Oxfam to integrate host families in Sange,
Luvungi Lubaka, Kavivira and Kamanyola in family sanitation support programmes, with funds from Pooled
Fund. Oxfam GB continues water trucking and hygiene promotion in the Kavimvira transit site and Luvungi.
Sentization on hygiene practices is conducted in Nundu, Uvira and Fizi health areas by community relays with
support from Oxfam, Solidarites International and ASED.
UNHCR partner ADES continues water supply and construction of latrines and showers in Lusenda. Tearfund
who implements a WASH project with the host community will coordinate with the UNHCR partner ADES in the
site for a good synergy of actions.

Health and nutrition

A preventive emergency vaccination campaign against measles and polio was conducted from 30 May to 05
June 2015 in 27 health areas, including six refugee hosting health areas. 70,693 children aged 6 to 59 months
were immunized against measles, 80,584 children aged 0-59 months were immunized against polio.
Since 01 June, UNICEF provides support to the health centres of Luvungi II Lubarika (Lemera Health Zone) and
Kamanyola Kashenyi ( Nyangezi Health zone) with redemptions of care services for refugees and host families
and 60% reduction of medical fees for host community members. From 06 to 14 June, 1,055 patients were
treated in health areas including 379 refugees. 150 cartons of PNNP, therapeutic milk, 1,000 litres of ringer
lactate, 15,000 litres of ORS, essential drugs, supplies and equipment were donated to health structures to
promote medical support.
Malnutrition check-ups continue within host and refugee communities. Children diagnosed with complicated
severe acute malnutrition are referred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). 14 children aged 6 to 59 months with severe
acute malnutrition were treated in health care facilities.

Education
Thanks to UNICEF advocacy, 84 Burundian refugee and Congolese expatriate children (including 33 girls) took
the end of primary school exam (ENAFEP). War Child and NRC will organise accelerated learning courses for
repatriated and refugee children in areas of Sange, Luvungi, Lubarika and Lusenda.

Child Protection
UNICEF and its partner AVREO continue certification of unaccompanied children continues in the Fizi and Uvira
territories. 22 unaccompanied children, including 7 girls, are taken care of in UNICEF supported transit families
in Uvira and Fizi. Five new transit families were identified among former Burundian refugees. They received
training on child protection and temporary care for unaccompanied children. UNICEF partner AVREO continues
to identify, verify and place unaccompanied children in host families in Fizi and Uvira territories.

NFI & Shelter

UNICEF partner Caritas conducts distribution of essential household items to 2,500 refugee and host families in
the Ruzizi plain. Other partners have a capacity stock of 2,700 kits. UNICEF partner RHA, a national NGO has
submitted a project to the Pooled Fund to cover 550 emergency shelters in the Ruzizi Plain and to distribute
essential household items to 1,971 households.
Refugee Influx to DRC from Burundi | Situation Report #2 17 June 2015