Unaccompanied and separated children amongst up to 35,000 refugees who have crossed into Burundi in recent weeks
Save the Child Protection Agency reported a large influx of unaccompanied and separated children among the up to 35,000 refugees who have crossed the country from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in recent weeks. Most newcomers are women and children, amid the biggest wave of refugees in 25 years. According to the United Nations.
Save the Children said at least four children died when they arrived in Burundi due to the disease, and the dirty conditions of the transit camps and the lack of medical supplies made children extremely vulnerable to disease and death.
Children’s Rights Organization has recorded 76 children – 43 cases at Rugobo Transit Center and 33 cases in Gihanga Transit Center, which have separated the border from families and relatives in the chaos. Although these children are now unified with their families, there are still many who are not yet unified, and others have not been identified as unaccompanied.
Save the children said that children who were not accompanied and separated in Burundi’s transit camps face specific and serious risks due to the loss of care and protection of their families.
They increase the risk of kidnapping, trafficking and exploitation, as well as physical violence, especially when they live in situations of inappropriate, exploitative or abused care, or with adults who have no family relationship with them. They also face greater risk of sexual abuse because they lack the protection of their parents, and orphans and unaccompanied children are more likely to be abused and least likely to report to authorities.
Save children are very concerned about these children and urgently appeals for funding to provide food, shelter, hygiene and sanitation, protection and emergency health care to meet their basic needs.
Since early February, about 35,000 people have entered Burundi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, fleeing a sharp escalation of violence. According to UNHCR. Many newcomers are children and urgently need food, shelter and protection.
Maggie Korde, director of children’s countryside in Rwanda and Burundi, said:
“We have seen that in recent days, children and their families have crossed the border, many of which are hungry, exhausted and traumatized. All are forced to flee their lives. Many have witnessed violence. Some are injured or lost Parents and relatives.
We are particularly concerned with children without parents or caregivers. In a crisis, any child’s separation from his family is extremely painful and can have long-term negative effects on their health. Children who are separated from their families in emergencies lose care and protection when they need it most.
As we go all out to deal with this emergency, additional resources are urgently needed to meet the growing demand. Bundi has one of the longest underfunded humanitarian responses on the planet, and as new refugees influx in, donors need donors more than ever to ensure we can reach the most vulnerable people. ”
Save the Children has been working in Burundi since 2016, and we provide services in child protection, prevention and gender-based violence, health, child rights governance and education. Saving Children is working with the Government of Burundi, UNHCR and other agencies to support new arrivals and their families in Burundi, including registered unaccompanied and separated children. We have deployed a team to provide protection services and distribute the dignity of children and children’s play suites.
It’s time to save the kids Congo Since 1994, humanitarian needs have been met, the arrival of refugees and the displacement of the population due to armed conflicts in the eastern provinces. Saving children has expanded their humanitarian response to support existing care systems, train local leaders and communities to prevent and deal with exploitation and abuse, and ensure access to health care through mobile clinics. It also helps children access basic education by building classrooms, training teachers and distributing learning materials.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of Rescue Children.
