In 2020, assistance and international protection activities were carried out in a difficult operational environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation obliged the Government of Burundi to close its borders in March 2020 and remained closed the whole year, making almost impossible for new asylum-seekers to have access to Burundian territory. In addition, Burundi has still not lifted reservations to the 1951 Convention relating to freedom of movement, the rights to paid employment and education.
In collaboration with the National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA), UNHCR continued the protection for 75,448 refugees and 4,917 asylum-seekers living mainly in the five camps established in Burundi (Kinama, Musasa, Bwagiriza, Kavumu and Nyankanda) as well as that of 38,422 refugees and asylum-seekers living mainly in the municipality of Bujumbura, its surroundings and at the transit centres of Cishemere (Cibitoke Province) and Makombe (Rumonge Province). 100% of people of concern who arrived at transit centres and urban areas were registered on an individual basis in sites. From January to March, 2,938 people of concern were registered on an individual basis with minimum personal biodata being captured. UNHCR undertakes the BIMS registration for all individuals after the admission process based on established registration SOPs.
During 2020, the Government of Burundi continued to determine the status of refugees in accordance with the relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and related conventions and laws, for people seeking asylum.
In 2020, 3,918 new asylum-seekers were screened and registered, which constitutes a decrease of 68% of new registrations compared to 2019.
In 2020, regarding gender-based violence, the involvement of UNHCR partners in finding appropriate solutions for survivors was the preferred approach throughout the year due to a gender-based violence Mainstreaming strategy. The risks and incidences of gender-based violence have been reduced through sensitization, community mobilization and the active involvement of refugees (especially men) in the fight against gender-based violence.
In health, 2020 was characterized on one hand by the measles epidemic in the case of refugees and on the other hand by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has negatively impacted the normal functioning of health structures in the country and disrupted the international drug and equipment procurement.
In energy, briquettes were distributed as cooking energy in the refugee camps. Distributions were organized every month to all households present in the camps. Following the verification exercise carried out at the end of 2019, a new distribution process determining the quantities of briquettes to be distributed in each camp was established. Therefore, a quantity of 374,617 kg is ordered each month and an average of 7.5 kg of briquettes per person is distributed.
In terms of improving access to education, UNHCR with its partner JRS constructed and rehabilitated 115 classrooms in camps which reduced the pupil / classroom ratio from about 100 to 70-80 pupils per classroom; enrolment of 23,634 pupils aged 3 years and above including 11,461 girls (48.4%) in refugee camps and 2,154 pupils (47% girls) attending the Public Basic Schools in urban centres (Bujumbura), from grade 1 to grade 9. The global girl’s enrolment rate in primary schools in camps was 49.8% while in secondary schools it was 45% due to dropouts caused by a variety of reasons, mainly resulting from early marriage, early pregnancy or the lack of resources forcing young refugees to prioritize income generation for their family over their education.
Through the regional multi-year resettlement strategy initiated from 2012 to 2019, some 7,075 refugees were resettled to the United States of America and 3,567 to other third countries.