Humanitarian needs in Burundi remain high due to significant internal displacement, the large‑scale return of Burundian refugees from Tanzania, and new influxes of Congolese refugees fleeing intensified conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The increasing frequency and severity of climate crisis‑related disasters continue to worsen food insecurity. A high number of people are projected to face Crisis‑level food insecurity (IPC Phase 3) between January and March 2026, coinciding with the main harvest season.

Many Burundians remain refugees in neighbouring countries, including the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, with the majority hosted in Tanzania. Following the expected closure of Nduta camp at the end of March and Nyarugusu at the end of June, two of Tanzania’s main camps hosting Burundian refugees, a significant number of returns has been recorded since January 2026, a trend expected to continue through June.

At the same time, Burundi received two major refugee influxes from the DRC in 2025. Preliminary findings from humanitarian needs assessments conducted in March and June 2025 indicate a substantial increase in the number of people requiring life‑saving assistance compared with the previous year. However, sharp declines in humanitarian funding, impacting operational capacity and staffing, mean the 2026 Response Plan will prioritize only the most vulnerable, leaving many without critical assistance and protection.

Humanitarian partners project that climate change‑related shocks, including floods, heavy rains and dry conditions, will continue to drive humanitarian needs in Burundi. Ongoing insecurity in eastern DRC may also trigger additional refugee arrivals. This growing influx of returnees and refugees is occurring amid severe underfunding.

Throughout 2026, humanitarian support will remain essential to address food insecurity, acute malnutrition, and the needs of refugees and returnees, as well as to respond to recurrent health emergencies, including the cholera outbreak. These challenges are further compounded by rising inflation, shortages of essential commodities such as fuel, and broader economic disruptions.

In 2026, the humanitarian response will focus on providing life‑saving assistance, including food, shelter, non‑food items, water and sanitation services, and protection support, to the most vulnerable populations. Assistance will be delivered through both in‑kind distributions and cash transfers. Priority groups include food‑insecure households, refugees and returnees, communities affected by extreme weather events, internally displaced persons (IDPs), people impacted by or at risk of disease outbreaks, and vulnerable host communities.

The response will concentrate on northern and eastern communes experiencing drought and hosting refugees and returnees; western areas along Lake Tanganyika that are highly exposed to flooding; plains and surrounding areas at risk of landslides; communes hosting significant numbers of IDPs and returnees; and locations affected by the cholera outbreak. Strengthening communities’ long‑term resilience to climate shocks and supporting the reintegration of returnees will be closely coordinated with national programmes and implemented in partnership with local and international development actors. Efforts will also focus on enhancing the integrated, multi‑hazard early warning system to enable timely, threshold‑based anticipatory action that saves lives and minimizes losses and damage.