Migration in Burundi: History, Current Trends and Future - MGSoG ...

Table 9:Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Burundi: October 2009
Country of origin Number of refugees
The Democratic Republic of the Congo 30,312
Rwanda 378
Other 64
Total 30,754
Source: UNHCR, 2009a.
4.3 Current Internal Burundian migration
Current internal Burundian migration patterns consist of rural-urban migration and the
return of IDPs from settlements in Northern and Central Burundi to their original
homes.
4.3.1 Internally Displaced Persons in Burundi
Burundi hosts thousands of internally displaced persons, Burundians that have fled their
homes but have not crossed the border and instead sought refugee in safer places within
their own country. In 2003 the International Crisis Group (2003) reported 281,000
permanent internally displaced persons in Burundi. Those IDPs were scattered over
approximately 226 officially-registered camps. In the same year the number of IDPs
within Burundi increased by almost 100,000 people each month because of the civil
conflict that still raged in the country. As a result of the peace agreement between the last
rebel group Palipehutu-FNL and the Burundian government in 2003 and the successful
elections in 2005, the number of IDPs has decreased substantially in Burundi (IDMC,
2008). In 2004 the number of IDPs had already decreased to 140,000 living in 182 camps.
Burundi currently has around 100,000 IDPs, living in approximately 160 camps
(Lemarchand, 2006, UNHCR, 2009). 7 These camps, or sites, are mainly located in
Northern and Central Burundi. Most of the IDPs living in those camps migrated in the
late 1999s or early 2000s due to civil, and over the years many IDPs have become
integrated in their new environments. Most of the IDPs consequently favour the option
to stay at their current location (IDMC, 2009).
For the IDPs who have not integrated, living conditions in the camps are poor,
just as for other refugees and returnees. Despite joint efforts of the Burundian
7 It is difficult to estimate the number of IDPs in the country though, due to unavailability of reliable data
(UNHCR, 2009c)
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