Favorable Protection Environment: the Government continued with restrictions of movement, harshly dealing with those found outside the camp without authorizations including through detention, fines and refoulement. With the onset of COVID19, stricter measures were adopted to deal with those who left the camp without authorization particularly onward movers.
Gender-based violence: Restricted protection environment including limited livelihood opportunities for people of concern placed them at heightened risk of engaging in negative coping mechanism to meet their basic needs. Also, limited alternative cooking energy forced women and girls to collect firewood outside the camp and thereby expose themselves to gender-based violence risks. There were also limited safe space for survivors.
Child Protection: The increasingly restricted protection environment, encampment policy, high level of poverty and the inability of parents and caregivers to generate income has contributed to some of the prevalent protection risks faced by children, including child labor/trafficking, early marriage/pregnancy.
Persons with special needs: Due to budgetary constraints eligible persons with special needs were not supported with CRIs, cash and firewood. Shelter to persons with special needs remains a challenge due to Ministry of Home Affairs restriction on upgrades & demolition of shelters for those repatriating leaving deserving persons with special needs in dire situation.
Shelter: 97% of the target shelters to be constructed were not done after the Government suspension of the construction works in the camps. Over 19% of the Burundian refugees do not have adequate shelter since their arrival in 2015 and have since lived in dilapidated emergency shelters and tents, leading to unacceptable living conditions.
Education: Some of the challenges faced in the reporting period include lack of inclusion of refugees in the national education system, absence of remote learning during COVID-19, shortage of classrooms, lack of educational materials, shortage of qualified and certified teachers, and limited opportunities for refugees to advance to higher levels of education. The proportion of unqualified teachers (56%) remained the same as in year 2020.
WASH: Continuation of household latrine construction is required to provide adequate household sanitary facilities as 30% of household are still relying on shared latrines which are continuously filling up. Improvements in school WASH facilities are required, especially in terms of additional latrines and adequate menstrual hygiene management facilities. Open defecation by children needs to be eliminated.
Health: There is a critical need to improve the quality and accessibility of services and provision of optimum diagnostic equipment’s, medical and supplies, refurbishment of health facilities and laundry areas as well as reestablishment of one health post. Support to Government referral facilities is also required to facilitate reverse referrals as well as support on COVID -19 treatment Centre. Capacity building on various services including reproductive health and mental health is prudent along with community awareness and sensitization.
Registration: The roll-out of the GDT for the General Food distribution was delayed in the three camps due to the ongoing construction of the infrastructure. Data Sharing Agreement between UNHCR & Ministry of Home Affairs has not yet been signed, hence the transition of registration activities to the Government is still pending.
Environment & Energy: Deforestation and environmental degradation remain major challenges existing in the humanitarian operation. Lack of clear information on what is exploited and what UNHCR is investing in, is a critical challenge ahead of limited rehabilitation funding. Meeting sustainable alternative energy demands for the refugees also remains an outstanding issue to be addressed.
Self-reliance & Livelihoods: Due to resources limitations and restrictions, needs exist in areas of access to agricultural production – despite reduced food ration -, access to ICT, and access to training and learning. Approximately 53% of needs remain unmet.