UNICEF Burundi Humanitarian Situation Report No. 19, 30 April 2026

Countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Republic of Tanzania Source: UN Children’s Fund Please refer to the attached file. Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs During April 2026, Burundi continued to face a highly strained humanitarian situation marked by sustained refugee presence, ongoing voluntary returns, a relatively stable but closely monitored epidemiological situation, and persistent food and nutrition insecurity, further overstretching already fragile basic social services. Following the influx from Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since December 2025, the Busuma refugee site hosts 14, 063 households (66, 738 people, including 60 per cent children. A biometric registration exercise is ongoing and has reached 15, 641 individuals, supporting improved population data and service delivery planning. Overcrowding continues to strain WASH, health, nutrition, education, protection and shelter services. Since 23 April 2026, voluntary returns of Congolese refugees from Busuma to the DRC began with an initial convoy of 464 individuals, followed by a second convoy of 990 refugees (246 households). The movement is expected to continue, with around 20, 000 refugees having expressed willingness to return, potentially reshaping site population dynamics. Population figures in other sites have declined due to undocumented (non-official) departures: Cishemere has decreased from 8, 000 to approximately 3, 500 refugees, and Makombe from 2, 000 to around 600, while Musenyi continues to host 18, 067 refugees. Returns of Burundian refugees from the United Republic of Tanzania have continued, with over 65, 000 returnees recorded, sustaining pressure on services and host communities. Nutrition conditions remain critical. hitidtitdilbl Situation in Numbers 632, 989 children in need of humanitarian assistance (Multicounty Great lakes HAC 2026-Burundi) 1, 285, 828 people in need (Multicounty Great lakes HAC 2026- Burundi) ≈89, 000 Internally displaced people (IDPs) ≈90, 790 people currently displaced by the conflict in Eastern DRC (UNHCR CORE March 2026) 65, 440 Burundian returnees from Tanzania 2026(UNHCR)

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