Burundi refugee crisis - World Refugee Day
Burundi refugee crisis - World Refugee Day
While the struggle of refugees fleeing Syria is visible daily in the press, on World Refugee Day this year, we’re documenting the plight of thousands of people fleeing Burundi.
Many refugees are seeking refuge in Tanzania, Rwanda or Uganda, but the camps are at breaking point and there’s no sign of solution in their country. Their plight is barely reported and many in the Western world wouldn’t know of the mass exodus. Over a quarter of a million refugees have already fled the broken state.
Harelimana, 17, travelled with her family to Kigoma camp in Tanzania, “The journey took us over two weeks. We only had a bag of flour and some beans to survive on. Even at the refugee camp we don’t have a lot of food and water and it’s hard to be hygienic when I’m menstruating. I cut up my clothes to use as pads.”
We’re raising awareness today, with a photo story of impactful images, all courtesy of Sala Lewis.
World refugee day
Thousands have been fleeing conflict in Burundi for years and make the long journey to Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda.
Our photographer focused on the refugee camps in Tanzania, but the scenes are all too familiar in the other camps of Uganda and Rwanda.
Camps in Tanzania
Many have now reached breaking point with thousands more refugees arriving than they're equipped to deal with.
This unfortunately means that water and food issues are made much worse as families pile in next to each other.
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