Burundi

Introduction

Burundi is facing a severe but often overlooked humanitarian crisis, appearing in CARE’s list of the world’s 10 most neglected crises for the ninth time in 10 years. The country’s humanitarian situation remains precarious, with 70% of its population living below the poverty line. Food insecurity levels are alarming with even higher levels of malnutrition among rural communities. The situation has deteriorated following multiple economic shocks in recent years which have aggravated the humanitarian needs of the population.

Over 256,000 Burundian refugees remain displaced in neighbouring countries, the majority having fled violence linked to the 2015 contested elections in Burundi. At the same time, the country has around 92,000 internally displaced people, mainly due to natural hazards such as flooding and landslides.

Since its independence in 1962, Burundi has faced repeated periods of instability and conflict. The EU provides support to Burundian refugees in their host countries and to those who voluntarily return home.

Facts & figures

EU humanitarian funding:

What are the needs?

Burundian refugees are mainly hosted in Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda. Most of them rely entirely on international assistance to meet their basic needs, such as food, health, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, and education. 

Many refugees live in camps where capacities and resources are stretched to the limit. The main needs remain access to basic services and food (rations are often not at 100% of the required daily calorie intake), health, nutrition, education, and protection of vulnerable people.

Displaced people

Since 2017, more than 255,000 Burundian refugees have returned to their country. Returnees need support to reintegrate into their communities of origin or settlement. They often face significant challenges, as many returnee farmers may have lost access to their lands in the meantime. 

At the same time, it has become increasingly difficult to secure the resources required to  meet the refugees’ needs.

How are we helping?

The EU monitors the humanitarian situation in Burundi and the refugee situation in neighbouring countries. In 2025, the EU allocated €13.5 million in humanitarian funding to assist refugees across the region and Burundians who voluntarily returned home.

Cash and food assistance

Depending on the country of asylum, refugees receive life-saving in-kind and/or cash-based food assistance. Cash-based assistance allows refugees to acquire essential items they consider a priority for their household. Additional nutritional support is given to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, children under 5 years of age, chronically ill people and hospital patients.

EU humanitarian support enables the registration of Burundian refugees in camps and settlements in the region or upon return in Burundi. This is often a precondition for receiving assistance and accessing services, for both refugees and returnees.

Protection

The EU supports protection assistance given to particularly vulnerable groups. These may include children, women, single parents, survivors of sexual violence, the elderly, and disabled people who are at risk of marginalisation and unable to access services. In addition to supporting victims, protection actions also include measures to reduce the risks of violence and abuse at refugee camps.

After spending years outside their home communities, returnees face significant challenges rebuilding their lives in Burundi. At the same time, the receiving communities also face difficulties in hosting them. EU funding supports returnees through the promotion of community dialogue to identify humanitarian needs and provide solutions together with the host communities.

Access to basic services

In addition, returnees are supported in accessing basic services, such as obtaining birth certificates that allow them to access essential services in their home country.

Disaster preparedness

Burundi is prone to natural hazards such as floods and landslides. The EU supports disaster preparedness in the country by enhancing the response capacity of first-line actors: the Burundian Red Cross and the communities themselves.