Burundi Situation Supplementary Appeal

A total of USD  175.1 million* requested for the period January ‐ December 2016, including:
   
          - USD 10.4 million for Burundi
          - USD 8.1 million for the DRC
          - USD 60 million for Rwanda
          
- USD 70 million for Tanzania
          
- USD 14.3 million for Uganda
          
- USD 0.25 million for Zambia 

Read the entire Supplementary Appeal and access the Latest Updates on the Burundi Situation

* This total includes regional activities and support costs (7%) 

In May 2015, Burundi’s Constitutional Court ruled in favour of President Nkurunziza’s third-term bid, sparking weeks of protests mainly in the capital, Bujumbura. Ahead of the elections, a spiral of violence forced thousands of fearful Burundians to flee their homes. President Nkurunziza’s electoral victory in July 2015 did not yield the needed calm but rather led to an escalation of clashes between protestors on the one hand, and supporters of the ruling party, as well as with police forces, on the other. Efforts to bring various parties to the table for dialogue have not borne fruit. In the meantime, there are increasing reports of violations of human rights. Since April 2015, humanitarian actors have reported the deaths of 288 persons, including UN staff. Tensions remain high in the capital, Bujumbura, as well as in the provinces of Makamba and Kirundo. Consequently, Burundians continue to seek asylum in neighbouring countries. 

As at 31 October 2015, the crisis in Burundi had pushed over 214,000 people into neighbouring Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and Zambia. A multi-agency Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) was prepared in April 2015 and a UNHCR Supplementary Budget Appeal launched in May 2015 to seek funding for the emergency response to the massive influx of new Burundian asylum-seekers. In light of the prevailing situation inside Burundi, in particular the lack of meaningful progress for the resolution of the crisis, it is projected that in addition to the 214,000 Burundian refugees in the four main countries of asylum, another 169,000 people will likely seek asylum in 2016. In parallel, it is expected that 50,000 refugees requiring assistance will return spontaneously to Burundi throughout this period, although
conditions are not conducive to their return. The needs outlined in this appeal for the Burundi situation (January-December 2016) have not been taken into account in the 2016 annual budget for the various countries, and amount to a total amount of USD 175 million.