Thousands of families are fleeing the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with growing numbers of people arriving in Burundi at already overcrowded camps.

Since Dember 6, 2025, over 84,000 people have crossed the border from the DRC's restive South Kivu region into Burundi to escape renewed and intensified fighting.

According to UN estimates, the total number of Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in Burundi has now breached the 200,000-mark.

'Children are paying the price of violence'

Geoffrey Kirenga, Save the Children's Head of Mission in Burundi, said that "children fleeing the conflict are paying the highest price.They are arriving in Burundi traumatized, hungry and exhausted. Many have witnessed killings, lost family members, and been forced to abandon school overnight."

"Right now, families urgently need food, clean water, safe shelter, healthcare and child-friendly spaces to help children begin to recover from what they have experienced. Without immediate additional funding, we risk failing children who have already lost so much. The international community must act now to protect children fleeing this conflict and ensure they are not forgotten," he added.

The aid agency said it was providing hygiene and sanitary items, including undergarments, soap and sanitary towels for women and girls as well as fabric to make clothes for children or to be used as sheets.

However, the scale of needs far outweighs available resources, Save the Children stressed.

Appeal for over $33 million in aid

The government of Burundi has launched an appeal with the UN and its partners aiming to raise over $33 million to provide humanitarian aid to 90,000 new arrivals over the past four months, having so far succeeded only in getting 10 percent of the requested funds.

In response, Save the Children has called on the international community and donors to urgently scale up funding efforts to meet the lifesaving needs of children and families displaced by the escalating conflict in eastern DRC.