Congolese refugee crisis "under control", says UNHCR

The current situation of some 11,000 refugees who have arrived in Burundi from neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since fighting erupted in Uvira on Saturday is "under control", Stefano Severe, country representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told IRIN on Friday. Severe noted that reports that the refugees were facing starvation were incorrect. "We are currently able to handle between 20,000 to 30,000 refugees," Severe said. "Otherwise, a special appeal [to donors] will have to be launched." Severe noted that good weather had enabled his agency, supported by numerous NGOs, to put adequate shelter, sanitation, and water provision in place. Severe did, however, express concern that additional refugee inflows were possible, given continuing fighting in eastern DRC, particularly from the Rusizi plains, from where bombing has been heard by refugees settled in Cibitoke province of northwestern Burundi. "The international community must apply pressure to bring an end to this violence," he said. Although there were reports that Mayi-Mayi factions had offered a ceasefire, it was unknown if the RCD would be willing to accept. Severe noted that relations with the Burundi authorities were "excellent", with the military having provided security and the government having allocated locations for the refugees. According to UNHCR, 4,830 refugees were being cared for on site at Gatumba, Burundi, which is about 30 km northeast of Uvira, DRC. Severe expressed concern that although the camp was adequate as a transit site, he would like the camp to be moved farther away from the border. He said he would be discussing this matter with the Burundi authorities on Friday. Farther north, in Cibitoke Province, the authorities registered another 3,650 Congolese refugees as at Friday, while 2,500 were in nearby Rugomba locality being processed before transfer to Cibitoke.