KIGALI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has appealed for 250 million U.S. dollars of funds to aid Burundi refugees and host nations.
UNHCR renewed its concern in a statement issued on Tuesday over the unstable situation in Burundi, which continues to drive people to seek safety in neighboring countries.
"UNHCR has updated its funding needs for the Burundi situation to 250 million U.S dollars from 214 million dollars," said the statement.
"Resources are badly needed to provide emergency assistance to the new arrivals and proper support to their hosts. UNHCR has so far received only 2 percent of the required funds," it said.
Since April 2015, at least 410,000 Burundians have fled to neighboring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.
The refugee population is expected to increase by 26 percent by the end of 2017, according to the UNHCR.
The UNHCR said in the DRC, Rwanda and Tanzania, refugee camps have reached or are close to their maximum capacity. The situation in Tanzania's Nduta camp is particularly alarming.
"Living conditions for refugees in neighboring countries are extremely difficult. More arrivals are over-stretching the reception capacity in refugee camps, especially in Tanzania, Rwanda and the DRC. Urgent funding is needed to upgrade and construct new settlements to decongest the current ones and provide basic services," said the statement.
However, the UNHCR pointed out that supplementary appeal focuses on the four largest host countries in addition to Burundi, despite the fact that smaller numbers of refugees have fled to countries including Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Arrivals data from the Rwandan Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs indicates that 84,597 Burundians have crossed into Rwanda since the Burundi crisis in April 2015.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Seraphine Mukantabana, Rwanda's Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, said that Burundian refugees continue to cross over to Rwanda despite the overcrowding of refugee camps.
"We have continued to receive Burundian refugees on the daily basis. We have to provide shelter and security. We are worried that as the refugee population grows, meeting basic needs will be a challenge," she said.
Mahama camp in Kirehe District, Eastern Rwanda, the biggest Burundian refugee camp in Rwanda, accommodates 53,490 refugees, according to the Rwandan ministry.
Burundi plunged into a crisis in April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term. More than 500 people in Burundi have been killed since the start of the crisis.
