Inside Story

Escaping Burundi’s unrest

World Health Organization warns a humanitarian crisis is unfolding as tens of thousands escape the unrest in Burundi.

The World Health Organization warns a humanitarian crisis is unfolding as tens of thousands escape the unrest in Burundi.

Protests erupted in Burundi almost four weeks ago, after it was announced that President Pierre Nkurunziza would be running for a third term.

The government has since survived a coup attempt, but the crisis now seems to be spreading across the region.

The UN’s refugee agency says more than 110,000 Burundians have escaped to neighbouring Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A cholera outbreak in Tanzania has killed more than 30 people.

What’s being done to help them? And what impact will this have on an already stretched region?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault

Guests:

Teresa Ongaro – UNHCR’s Spokeswoman for East Africa, Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa

Cara Jones – Assistant Professor of Political Science and Sub-Saharan Africa specialist at Mary Baldwin College

Yolande Bouka – Burundi Analyst and Researcher of Conflict and Risk Analysis at the Institute for Security Studies