Desperate Refugees Reaching Ubuntu Clinique

December 2025

Desperate people, children, women and men, are on the move in the region of Ubuntu Clinique. For Jackson, this movement of people from the Congo into Burundi in response war, is very reminiscent of events from 30 years ago that forced his migration as a child. The UNHCR reports that:

Since early December, over 84,000 people fleeing escalating clashes in DRC’s South Kivu have crossed into Burundi. This significantly increases the total number of Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers in Burundi to more than 200,000.

Many of these people cross the Ruzizi River within just a few kilometers of Ununtu Clinique. All of this has an impact on the Clinique. Jackson shared with us that between December 8th and 16th they have seen:

• 246 children under the age of 5 with diarrhea, dehydration and high fevers.
• 29 pregnant women
• 38 adults with bullets and bomb shells – some still in their bodies
• 161 adults with a variety of other medical concerns.

Many of these people have no resources to pay for the services that they badly need. Jackson and his team are doing what they can with providing water and some food to some of those arriving in the area and there is a lineup outside of Jackson’s compound with people asking for help.

Read about the refugee crisis here:
unhcr.ca/news/unhcr-escalating-violence-in-eastern-dr-congo-deepens-humanitarian-crisis-in-burundi/