In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), young men like 25-year-old Jordan Bita are taking dangerous journeys to flee from M23 rebels, who have forced them to join their ranks. Bita trekked through dense forests and crossed the agitated Rusizi River while clutching a plastic bag with his belongings to arrive in Burundi’s comparative safety. That river forms a natural border between the DRC and Burundi.
The M23 rebels have stepped up their campaign, taking entire cities, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, in five weeks. The widespread fear among local populations is driven especially by reports of forced conscription, thanks to their presence. As Bita recounted his method of elusive navigation: “I was able to pass without being caught; I was passing through the wood and walking through the bushes, not the main road. That is because we are surrounded by M23 fighters going around Town, and they are forcing us to join them to fight the government.”
Over the past month, nearly 70,000 people have fled to Burundi, making the country a likely refuge for people fleeing persecution. Burundian troops are patrolling the riverbanks in Cibitoke province, where many Congolese families are crossing. Refugees are processed with careful security screening when they arrive so no weapons can be smuggled through. From there, they are taken to refugee camps, like the one about 12 kilometers away in Rugombo, where they are given shelter and basic food.
Crossing the Rusizi River is perilous. In the last fortnight alone, at least two dozen people have been carried away by the strong currents while attempting the 300-meter swim in this river, which in certain places reaches depths of up to 10 meters. Sadly, many drownings are thought to go unreported. One refugee, a woman named Clarice Kacindi, described the heartbreaking experience of losing her three-year-old child in the crossing: “One of my children was lying down on the raft in front of me as I held three others next to me. There were several other people in the raft and when we reached the middle of the river, it broke into two and my child was washed away.”
The humanitarian response in Burundi is under immense pressure. There, hundreds of white tents have been pitched in Rugombo’s football stadium to provide shelter to the new arrivals. But resources are scarce, with up to 25 people sharing one tent, and food is limited to one meal a day. Traffic is also heavy at the main border post between the DRC and Burundi, at Gatumba, according to the UN agency, adding that the vast majority of people are women and children. Reports say men are barred from crossing into Burundi, forced to stay in Uvira to defend the city from the M23 rebels.
The fighting has escalated tensions in the region. Burundi has sent over 10,000 troops to help in the DRC’s military campaign against the M23. The government of Burundi fears that once the M23 consolidates its control of South Kivu, it will embolden a rebel group called Red Tabara, which has attacked Burundi from South Kivu in the past. Relations between Rwanda and Burundi have been historically tense, marked by mutual accusations of efforts to destabilize each other’s governments.
The United Nations has said it is alarmed by the growing crisis. Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, an official with the U.N. refugee agency, pointed to the extraordinary scope of the flood of refugees into Burundi: “It is very bad for Burundi. The last time the country has received this many refugees was more than 20 years ago.” She stressed the need for international efforts to improve the circumstances of the refugees as well as those of the host communities, in a bid to ward off possible clashes between the two sides.
The situation is fluid, as the M23 rebels advance and regional forces mobilize. The international community watches closely, with diplomatic efforts at a ceasefire and addressing the growing humanitarian disaster.
Original source: BBC News Source link
