Central African economic bloc urges int'l support for DRC refugees in Burundi

BUJUMBURA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has expressed dismay at the scale of the humanitarian crisis caused by violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has forced tens of thousands into exile in Burundi, ECCAS Commission President Ezechiel Nibigira said Tuesday.

According to the ECCAS chief, about 25,000 refugees have been received at the Gatumba reception center, while nearly 40,000 have arrived at the Buganda reception center. He added that the figures increase on a daily basis, with the majority of asylum seekers being women and children.

"Those refugees are lacking food, shelter, sanitary installations, potable water, basic health services and logistics to be transported from their reception sites to refugee camps," said Nibigira.

He emphasized that the inaction or the insufficiency of the current humanitarian response risks causing disastrous consequences for refugees as well as the social and security stability of the nearby population.

He therefore called for "an urgent regional and international solidarity" following the escalating human suffering and the alarming deterioration of living conditions among DRC refugees.

"This call targets all ECCAS member states, the African Union as well as the entire international community," said Nibigira, stressing the need for immediate, coordinated and strengthened efforts to mobilize financial and logistical resources to guarantee urgent humanitarian assistance. ■