Reference :
V-P-BI-E-00301
Date :
02/03/2026
Caption :
Southern Burundi, Burunga province, Musenyi, a refugee camp hosting people from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Julienne Chigalo is a 53-year-old Congolese refugee who lives in the camp with her grandchildren, Grace and Ozile.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
"Ten years ago, I was living in Mutarule when fighting broke out. That day, my husband and daughter-in-law tragically lost their lives. In the chaos, I managed to escape with my two grandchildren: Ozile, who was just an infant at the time, and Grace, who was three years old. Later, I learned that my son had returned home to look for us. But when he was warned that he might be killed, he had no choice but to flee. From that day on, we had no news of him.
Last year, we had to flee once again, this time to Burundi. After arriving at the Musenyi camp, I met someone who knew my son. He told me that my son was still alive. At first, I didn’t believe him. I thought he was lying. But shortly after, the Red Cross arranged a video call with him. And it was really him. At that moment, I couldn’t hold back my tears.
For the children, it was a different experience. It was the first time they had seen their father in years, and they didn’t remember him. Ozile and Grace nodded, and Grace added, 'We didn’t know Papa. Now, we talk to him from time to time, thanks to the Red Cross phone.'
After fleeing Congo, their father’s journey didn’t stop until he reached France, passing through Tanzania and Mayotte. Today, he sends us money every month to support me and the children. 'We would have died of hunger without the help he sends us,' Julienne concluded with gratitude."
Since early 2025, clashes have intensified in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, displacing hundreds of thousands of people across the region. Tens of thousands have fled to Burundi, where more than 80,000 Congolese refugees are seeking safety in overcrowded camps such as Busuma, Musenyi and Cishemere. This sudden influx has placed significant pressure on Burundi’s limited resources. The ICRC is working in collaboration with the Burundi Red Cross to provide essential humanitarian services, such as water trucking and disinfection operations. Together, they are also striving to reunite families separated by the conflict by helping them restore contact with their loved ones.
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
8448x6336
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
