The United Nations and the government of Burundi have launched the country’s Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023 targeting U.S.$194.2 million in funding

Development Diaries reports that an estimated 1.5 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2023, with 1.1 million of the most vulnerable people targeted for assistance.

In a statement, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reiterated that lack of funding could have severe consequences, leaving vulnerable populations exposed to climatic hazards, diseases, and protection risks.

Burundi is highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters have caused significant internal displacement, affecting vulnerable populations such as refugees and internally displaced persons.

In its Displacement Tracking Matrix 2022, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said it identified 84,791 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 19,407 displaced households in the 18 provinces of Burundi.

Among those identified, 91 percent were displaced due to environment-related disasters while a little more than half (56 percent) of IDPs were children.

‘Our humanitarian response for Burundi in 2023 is the result of a thorough analysis of the needs and challenges faced by the most vulnerable populations’, UN Resident Coordinator, John Agbor, said in the statement.

‘Together, with the Government, humanitarian and development partners, we can work towards sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life of these populations and build a more resilient future.

‘We are all united by a common cause: to save lives and leave no one behind’.

According to the UN agency, breaking the cycle of epidemic diseases will be difficult without an emergency health response and water, sanitation and hygiene support.

Source:  OCHA

Photo source: UN Peacebuilding