Catholic Church in Burundi Supporting Over 80,000 Congolese Refugees

The Catholic Church in Burundi is working with humanitarian organizations to assist more than 80,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Bishop Salvator Niciteretse, the local ordinary of the Diocese of Bururi and coordinator of the International Forum of Catholic Action (FIAC) for Africa, stated that many of these refugees originate from Uvira in the South Kivu Province of eastern DRC.

The Church provides assistance through cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Children’s Fund. Bishop Niciteretse noted that the Diocese of Bururi previously hosted more than 30,000 refugees before they were moved to other parts of Burundi.

The displacement follows ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that violence in the region has caused mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis, forcing families to seek safety across the border in Burundi.