Human Wrongs Watch
By the International Organization for Migration*
Cibitoke, Burundi – The last thing Elizabeth Uwimana remembered before the Rusizi River swallowed her two eldest children is the fear in their eyes as a violent surge of water tore them from her grasp.
Elizabeth Uwimana sits at a transit site in Burundi, exhausted after fleeing violence in the DRC with her children. Photo: IOM Burundi 2025/Alexander Bee
“The river took them from me,” she whispers, seated in a makeshift shelter surrounded by hundreds of other displaced families. “To this day, I don’t know if they are alive.”
Elizabeth, a mother of four, is among tens of thousands who fled renewed violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
For two years, she and her children had built a modest life in Kamanyola, having migrated there in search of safety and opportunity.
But that fragile peace was shattered in February 2025, when armed clashes between the M23 group and Congolese government forces reached their community.
“At first, we thought it would be over soon. But the fighting only got worse and we soon realized it was no longer safe,” Elizabeth explains. “We had no choice but to flee.”
Amid the chaos, Elizabeth was separated from her husband. Alone, she guided her four children through dense forests and treacherous terrain. Their only escape was the Rusizi River – a perilous crossing used by thousands seeking refuge in Burundi.
“The river was our only way out. I didn’t think twice.”
Displaced families at Rugombo transit site in Cibitoke Province, Burundi, after fleeing the DRC. Photo: IOM Burundi 2025/Armand Nibitanga
That decision came at a devastating cost. As they attempted the crossing, a sudden swell in the current swept her two eldest children away. They have not been seen since.
Elizabeth’s loss reflects a broader humanitarian crisis. Between January and March 2025, more than 70,000 people crossed into Burundi, fleeing escalating violence in eastern DRC.
Thousands more have arrived in Uganda and Rwanda, making this one of the largest displacement influxes Burundi has seen in decades.
Over 80 per cent of Burundian returnees arriving from the DRC have no homes to return to and no means to rebuild.
Like Elizabeth, many arrive with nothing – their documents lost, savings depleted, and belongings left behind. In Elizabeth’s case, even her phone, which held the last photos of her children and the only way to contact her husband, was lost to the river.
By March, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had assessed the needs of over 18,000 newly arrived displaced persons in Burundi.
Most were sheltering in overcrowded public spaces like schools, churches, and stadiums, including Rugombo Stadium in Cibitoke Province. Others were taken in by host communities already grappling with scarce resources.
Among them is Elizabeth, still searching for answers, holding on to what little she has left.
Thousands like Elizabeth Uwimana continue to arrive in Burundi after fleeing violence in the DRC. Photo: IOM Burundi 2025/Alexander Bee
Her story reflects a wider reality. Assessments revealed that over 85 per cent of displaced persons lacked access to safe and adequate shelter, and more than 75 per cent were in immediate need of food.
“We have no clothes, no blankets, not even a pot to cook with,” Elizabeth explains. “My two youngest are hungry. We have no food, no clean water – not even soap.”
Living conditions are dire. Sites are overcrowded and lack basic services.
The rainy season has worsened already poor sanitation, flooding shelters and turning camps into muddy, unhygienic spaces.
Outbreaks of diseases like measles and cholera have been reported, raising serious public health concerns.
“We just need a place to sleep, something to cook with, and a few essentials like mats and jerrycans to start over,” Elizabeth says.
In response to the growing crisis, IOM, in collaboration with the Government of Burundi and humanitarian partners, is delivering post-arrival assistance.
This includes emergency shelter, essential non-food items, clean water and sanitation facilities, protection services, and health and mental health and psychosocial support. IOM is also helping vulnerable families like Elizabeth’s relocate to safer areas.
Elizabeth’s journey echoes that of millions displaced across the Great Lakes region – people forced to flee not only from violence but also from poverty, climate shocks, and the slow erosion of hope.
Her voice carries a simple but urgent question: “We are safe now, but what comes next?”
As the conflict in eastern DRC rages on, the needs continue to outpace available resources. IOM is preparing to significantly scale up its operations to assist not only displaced Burundian returnees, but also other migrants and host communities bearing the brunt of this emergency.
With growing needs and limited funding, sustained support for humanitarian action is critical. Without it, countless lives – and futures – remain at risk.
This story was written by Kenny B. Irakoze, Communications Assistant with IOM Burundi.
*SOURCE: International Organization for Migration. Go to ORIGINAL: https://storyteller.iom.int/stories/fleeing-drc-and-haunted-loss-mother-left-asking-what-comes-next
LEARN MORE:
Increased Demand for Cobalt Fuels Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
– The demand for cobalt and other minerals is fueling a decades-long humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Living in Camp Roe in the Democratic Republic of Congo Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe2025 Human Wrongs Watch
Discover more from HUMAN WRONGS WATCH
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Baher Kamal
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 
Leave a comment