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Japan and World Food Programme (WFP) provide life-saving food assistance for refugees and returnees in Burundi
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The World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of over US$625,000 (approximately BIF two billion) from the Government of Japan to provide life-saving food assistance for refugees fleeing the recent violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundians returning from refugee camps in Tanzania.
In December, Burundi received 85,000 refugees fleeing renewed violence and insecurity in eastern DRC. WFP has rapidly scaled up assistance to provide hot meals and dry foods for 80,000 new arrivals. With the latest influx, WFP is now supporting double the number of refugees with the same resources.
“The generous support from the Government and people of Japan comes at a critical moment for families fleeing violence and insecurity as well as for those returning from exile with almost nothing. This contribution enables WFP, in close collaboration with the Government of Burundi, to deliver food assistance that saves lives and protects dignity during this emergency,” said Jean-Noel Gentile, WFP's Country Director in Burundi.
With up to 93,000 returnees also expected from Tanzanian refugee camps by mid-2026 due to planned closures, pressure on WFP's limited resources has further intensified. Currently, around 1,500 returnees are arriving in Burundi each week, and estimates indicate this could rise to 3,000 per week.
“The Embassy of Japan is honoured to support the urgent food needs of refugees from DRC and returnees from Tanzania. Japan's humanitarian assistance is based on the philosophy of Human Security - highlighting human-centred cooperation, dignity, and solidarity,” said Mr. Kazuya Nakajo, Ambassador of Japan to Burundi.
The Government of Japan has been a major contributor to WFP in Burundi, providing US$16 million to humanitarian operations since 2016. This contribution is part of a US$1 million allocation from the Government of Japan for WFP and UN Women to support refugees from DRC and returnees from Tanzania.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Displaced people in South Kivu close to ‘utter desperation’, World Food Programme (WFP) says
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That's according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which announced on Tuesday that it is scaling up to deliver aid to more than 210,000 people displaced by the violence after a new offensive by armed group M23 reignited hostilities earlier this month.
“This hunger crisis risks spiraling without urgent action,” said Cynthia Jones, WFP Country Director for the DRC.
She added that even the families who have provided shelter to those forced to flee are already living at emergency levels of food insecurity, “sharing their last food with displaced neighbors—pushing all of them closer to utter desperation.”
Deprived of water and medicine
Since the violence broke out in South Kivu, health facilities have been looted, medicines are unavailable and schools remain closed. Affected communities are deprived of safe water, medical care and livelihoods. Education has been severely disrupted, with more than 391,000 children out of school, according to WFP.
As a result, many have also fled into neighbouring countries in search of food and shelter. Teams are supporting 71,000 new arrivals from DRC in Burundi, and 1,000 in Rwanda, with hot meals.
Underfunding threatens aid
WFP is trying to reach the most vulnerable displaced families and host communities in South Kivu with a survival package of cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, iodised salt and specialised nutrition to prevent malnutrition for young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
While some food supplies are already pre-positioned in the conflict area, the agency says it is urgently seeking $67 million to continue assistance for three months for those forced to flee DRC and $350 million to keep operations running across all programmes in the country.
“Without urgent support and additional funding, we cannot respond to a crisis that is teetering on the brink of a hunger catastrophe,” said Ms. Jones.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.