The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and assist refugees, forcibly displaced persons, and stateless individuals, while facilitating their voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement in a third country. Through its field operations, UNHCR coordinates with governments, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, and other UN agencies to deliver essential services such as shelter, healthcare, education, water, sanitation, and protection for those affected by conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. The agency also engages in evidence-based planning, research, and policy advocacy to address the root causes of displacement and to strengthen the resilience of displaced populations.

Currently, UNHCR leads the international response to the needs of over 110 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers. By combining humanitarian aid with long-term solutions, UNHCR plays a critical role in upholding human dignity, promoting social cohesion, and advancing global stability.

Since February 2025, escalating conflict in North and South Kivu has forcibly displaced thousands of Congolese into Burundi, triggering a critical humanitarian crisis. The influx of refugees from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has placed substantial strain on local infrastructure and essential services, including shelter, water, sanitation, healthcare, and protection systems.

In response, UNHCR, in coordination with the Burundian government and humanitarian partners, is implementing evidence-based interventions to address immediate life-saving needs while advancing durable solutions for displaced populations. The scale and complexity of the crisis underscore the necessity of sustained international engagement and targeted philanthropic investment.

Since its inception, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF) has been committed to responding to humanitarian emergencies worldwide, upholding its dedication to human dignity, resilience, and global solidarity. The foundation is supporting UNHCR’s multisectoral emergency response in Burundi through May 2026, ensuring that humanitarian aid not only addresses immediate needs but also fosters sustainable recovery and long-term well-being for displaced communities. This support targets critical areas, including the provision of emergency shelter, access to safe water and sanitation, healthcare and nutrition services, protection for vulnerable groups, and educational opportunities for displaced children, ensuring that urgent humanitarian needs are met while promoting the resilience and dignity of affected communities.

Key interventions include:

1. Registration and Documentation: distribution of refugee identity cards to ensure legal recognition and access to rights.
2. WASH, Shelter and Site Management: establishment of reception centers and expansion of refugee sites to accommodate the growing population, while ensuring to safe water, sanitation, and adequate shelter.
3. Health and Nutrition: provision of medical care and nutritional support, particularly for vulnerable groups.
4. Food Security: ensuring vulnerable populations receive critical nutritional support and assistance to prevent malnutrition.
5. Child Protection & Education: provision of psychosocial support through individual counseling and group sessions for refugee children and their caregivers, along with individualized case management for children affected by violence. Mechanisms for family reunification are implemented, complemented by efforts to integrate refugee children into local schools and provide alternative education programs.
6. Protection Services: implementation of measures to safeguard refugees from exploitation and abuse, assuring their safety and dignity.

The situation in Burundi remains fluid and demands sustained international engagement. UNHCR and its partners are committed to delivering life-saving assistance while advancing durable solutions that uphold the rights, protection, and dignity of displaced populations. Continued philanthropic investment and global solidarity are essential to address urgent humanitarian needs, strengthen the resilience of affected communities, and support host countries in managing displacement sustainably.