BUJUMBURA, Burundi — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has sounded the alarm, warning that the food assistance for over 130,000 Congolese refugees in Burundi is at risk of being suspended unless urgent funding is secured.
The majority of these refugees have fled conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and are now reliant on the WFP for survival.
The WFP has outlined that without immediate financial support, the vital food distributions to these refugees will be halted entirely from October 2026.
The organization is currently seeking 35 million dollars to maintain its food and nutrition support for the refugees through August 2027. Arduino Mangoni, the interim Country Director of the WFP in Burundi, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The families who have fled violence with little more than the clothes on their backs are now facing the prospect of losing the aid they depend on to survive. “.
The WFP’s appeal comes as the organization has already had to scale back its operations in the DRC, reducing the number of beneficiaries from 2. 3 million to 600,000 due to a lack of funding.
The situation is dire, with other regions facing similar challenges, such as Afghanistan, where less than one in ten households receive assistance, and malnutrition rates reaching alarming levels.
The WFP’s executive director, Cindy McCain, has highlighted the global increase in acute hunger, underscoring the need for urgent funding to address the crisis.
The WFP’s report indicates that six of its most vital operations, including those in the DRC, Haiti, Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, are at risk of being interrupted.
The food assistance provided by the WFP is critical for the refugees in Burundi, who have fled the ongoing conflict in the DRC.
The lack of funding threatens to exacerbate their vulnerability, leading to increased malnutrition, hunger, and the necessity for detrimental survival strategies.
The WFP’s appeal is not just for financial support but also for the international community to recognize the urgency of the humanitarian crisis and to act swiftly to prevent further suffering.
The timely provision of necessary funding is crucial to sustain the WFP’s lifesaving assistance and ensure the survival of these vulnerable populations.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
—
This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: World Food Programme
