CARE, Bujumbura, Burundi – 8 July 2024 - Over 239,000 people have been displaced and 29 killed across Burundi as months of El-Nino rains cause Lake Tanganyika to rise over 770 meters, flooding surrounding communities. With houses destroyed, fields washed away, and schools closed due to impassable conditions, the floods have left the population devastated. This has put over 1.2 million people, mainly in Rural areas, in a situation where they face extreme hunger between now and September 2024. As the country seeks to find solutions to respond, a recent Rapid Gender Analysis (RGA) conducted by CARE Burundi found that women and girls are the most affected as a result of this crisis.
The RGA, a tool used in emergencies and crises to quickly assess the different needs, capacities, and coping strategies of men, women, boys, and girls, conducted between March and April 2024 painted a concerning picture. While they continue to experience the devastation caused by the flooding, women and girls are facing additional challenges to their health and dignity. With many men likely away seeking work to support their families, 40% of women have become the primary decision-makers in their households. However, only 27% of women reported having a say in major household expenditures. Concurrently, fishing and farming, the main sources of income for most people, have been severely affected. Increased crocodile and hippo attacks deter fishermen, while farms have been destroyed by flooding. Despite the low income generated, 89% of female respondents reported that household income is shared entirely.
In the Gatumba region of Bujumbura, the situation is particularly dire, with women and girls forced to wear pieces of old loincloths or their children's old clothes during their periods.Juvenal Afurika, CARE Burundi Country Director
"In Gatumba region of Bujumbura, the situation is particularly dire, with women and girls forced to wear pieces of old loincloths or their children's old clothes during their periods,” said Juvenal Afurika, CARE Burundi Country Director. “The community was already poor before the flooding and has now been thrown even further into poverty as the little they had was washed away. We have also seen a rise in diseases such as malaria and cholera due to stagnant waters. Health centers have been made inaccessible by the floods increasing the risk of major disease outbreak.”
The situation is further compounded by a critical sanitation crisis. As detailed in the RGA, destroyed toilets have forced residents to use buckets or sachets, which are then disposed of in the surrounding water source. This contaminated water, used for cooking, washing utensils, and bathing, has placed women and girls at high risk of waterborne diseases. To make matters worse, 75% of people in the camps lack access to healthcare facilities. This creates a dangerous situation for women and girls, as they are forced to travel longer distances in search of clean water. These journeys expose them to attacks from wild animals and marauding thieves, increasing the threat of sexual and gender-based violence.
Women and girls are forced to travel longer distances in search of clean water. These journeys expose them to attacks from wild animals and marauding thieves, increasing the threat of sexual and gender-based violence.Juvenal Afurika, CARE Burundi Country Director
"Following this devastating flood crisis, urgent protection is essential and needs an immediate and concerted response effort to support the affected," says Juvenal. “Communities need clean water, healthcare services, and start-up capital to help people rebuild their livelihoods. Additionally, modern latrines built on piles and public toilets are essential to prevent disease outbreaks. In the immediate term, tents or coverings, cooking utensils, food assistance, and clothing are crucial to help families survive."
CARE's emergency response in Burundi
Over the next three months, CARE Burundi alongside local partners will distribute dignity kits and provide cash transfers to 500 vulnerable households. This will be complemented by collaborating with local Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and Financial Service Providers (FSPs). CARE will engage women leaders to determine kit contents and local market prices and facilitate beneficiary awareness sessions and post-distribution monitoring (PDM). Additionally, cash transfers for food will be provided to these households. Stakeholder meetings will be held to introduce the intervention, followed by beneficiary assessment, selection, onboarding, and Financial Service Provider orientation.
For media inquiries, please contact Ines Ininahazwe, CARE Burundi Communication & Marketing officer via: [email protected]