Forgotten war victims
While we receive daily news updates from the Gaza Strip and Ukraine, another conflict remains virtually invisible in media coverage: in early 2025, a decades-long conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo dramatically escalated once again. CBN is dedicated to helping refugees in neighboring Burundi.
Between mineral resources and bloodshed
The conflict in eastern Congo remains largely ignored by the media—yet the region is home to rare and valuable resources that we find in our cell phones and computers, including coltan, nickel, and cobalt. These resources mean wealth and power for those who have access to them. In addition, a deep-rooted ethnic conflict, which culminated in the genocide in Rwanda a good 30 years ago, is exacerbating the situation.
According to the United Nations, the war between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel militia forced more than 400,000 people to flee their homes at the beginning of this year alone. A total of 6.7 million people were displaced from the region, with around 1.1 million fleeing to neighboring countries such as Rwanda and Burundi.
Even though the political situation has calmed down somewhat in June and July thanks to various agreements between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and the M23 militia, the situation for refugees remains serious.
From escape to survival
“They came full of rage. They didn’t explain anything,” reports a refugee in Burundi. “And now, here in this camp, I feel broken. My sister was killed … They killed her in front of our eyes. I fled because most of my family is dead. I don’t know if my husband is still alive.”
Many refugees have witnessed friends and relatives being murdered and have themselves experienced violence. But even after arriving in Burundi, they experience new suffering:
After fleeing violence, they now face starvation. The Makombe refugee camp in Burundi is experiencing an acute shortage of clean water, food, and medical care. Mothers often do not know how to feed their children.
“The women and children there suffer from malnutrition and a lack of regular food sources,” explains an employee of the CBN relief organization Operation Blessing.
Help from CBN
CBN works together with local partners to alleviate the suffering of local people and bring them help and hope.
To this end, the CBN relief organization has installed two water filters to prevent diseases caused by the consumption of contaminated water. It has also distributed staple foods such as flour, beans, and salt, as well as water containers and pots.
Further measures are planned to ensure sustainable supply and quality of life: a well is to be drilled, sanitary facilities to be improved, and a room to be set up for children where they can learn and be creative. A central kitchen will provide two nutritious meals a day with vegetables and protein, helping to compensate for nutritional deficiencies.
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