Climate refugees in Burundi: floods threaten thousands of life!

Climate refugees in Burundi: floods threaten thousands of life!

Gatumba, Burundi - in Burundi, the effects of climate change are indispensable. Asha, a mother of four children, lives in Gatumba near Lake Tanganyika. There, daily life is characterized by the consequences of persistent floods and increasing water levels that have been above the historical average since 2018. The conflicts about resources tighten, because farmers, homeowners and commuters fight with the challenges that bring the increased water levels. According to Al Jazera , the growing water level of the lake has led to significant damage to infrastructure.

The situation is particularly catastrophic for the already poverty -plagued population. According to estimates, over 100,000 people have become internal refugees due to the current climatic conditions, which makes Burundi one of the most affected countries through climate change. This is documented by information from the SPIEGEL describe.

severe humanitarian crisis

The water level of Lake Tanganyika, the two deepest lake in the world, has reached alarming heights and causes comprehensive destruction. According to the report of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 52,000 people have suffered from the consequences of the floods since March 2021. Areas in which formative facilities such as schools, markets and churches are damaged are particularly affected. Many people who depend on subsistence agriculture must accept the loss of their harvest because large parts of their fields have been flooded. This leads to a food bottleneck for the more than 90 % of the Burundian population that rely on agriculture.

Jean-Marie Niyonkuru, a church leader in Gatumba, reports on the poor living conditions and the spread of diseases such as cholera. The challenges are further exacerbated by a chronically under -financed humanitarian reaction plan; Only 17 % of $ 194.7 million required were made available. Michael Asima from Iom points out that urgent means are needed to meet the needs of the most endangered people.

displacement and hopelessness

The escape from the floods is not new: Asha had to leave her home in 2023 when the water was up to the waist. Their situation reflects the reality of many Burundians, who live in provisional accommodation on the roofs of their houses or are accommodated in camps. In order to counter the water pressure, children use improvised rafts made of plastic bottles to move away. At the same time, the Save the Children organization appeals to supporters to relieve the emergency. However, the funds have declined, especially in recent years, while the US aid project under the government of Donald Trump has been greatly reduced. These cuts also affect climate -related programs, which further tightens the difficult situation.

The Burundiers are faced with a huge challenge, which at the same time represents a humanitarian crisis. The cooperation between IOM and the Burundian government is crucial in order to meet people's needs for safe protection, clean water and basic hygienic services. A way out of this crisis situation remains uncertain, while the population continues to suffer from the consequences of the climatic changes.