The conflict in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is still active. Many refugees from South Kivu are in a situation of continual refuge because most of them have fled the activity of several armed groups which are still active. However, the multiyear regional resettlement strategy aimed at resettling Congolese to third countries, notably to the United States, could not be applied as a durable solution given the limited resettlement quotas. Although Burundi has had a generous refugee policy for a long time, the country did not improve its registration process, refugee status determination and the documentation procedures, which remain largely dependent on UNHCR and its staff. The reception conditions at Cishemere Transit Centre are deplorable and rehabilitation and extension works have not been undertaken. Advocacy for the inclusion of refugees in existing national strategies for education, health, child protection and the fight against sexual and gender-based violence has failed. Freedom of movement is not well assured, especially for refugees in camps due to security restrictions put in place by local authorities to monitor the activities of NGOs and international organizations which interact with the populations within the framework of their mandates. There is persistence of negative public attitudes on the part of local authorities and security forces towards this urban population. The office was unable to articulate its programmes in the UNDAF in 2019 as planned.
The quantity of briquettes distributed in the camps is still insufficient, which exposes refugees to various protection risks.
The problem of dilapidated community infrastructure such as individual shelters, latrines / showers, kitchens, classrooms and distribution sheds persists in the four former camps due to lack of funds including insufficient classrooms. This budget deficit has also an impact on people with specific needs such as access to special education, or orthopedic devices, child protection and supervision of non-educated youth, recreational activities, child-friendly spaces, nutrition such as food supplements.