Stories from the Field: Tackling Gender-Based Violence during Refugee Influx to Burundi
As the influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo into Burundi grew exponentially in 2025, so too did the risk of gender-based violence and the urgent need for support and prevention measures.
Sabine Nana (middle) and colleagues at the Rugombo Stadium, currently being used as a temporary reception site for Congolese refugees fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: UNHCR/Tom Monboe
Posted on 23 Jul 2025
Thousands of refugees have fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and crossed into Burundi since the beginning of 2025. To meet urgent needs for gender-based violence response and prevention, Sabine Nana was deployed to support UNHCR’s operation in Rutani. The first months have been full of challenges, achievements, and opportunities to draw on recent deployment experience.
How is the current humanitarian situation in Burundi, particularly regarding gender-based violence (GBV)?
“Since January 2025, Burundi has received around 70,000 individuals fleeing the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. About 25% of these refugees are located in Rutana, specifically in the Musenyi refugee site. Among them, 51% are women and girls, many of whom are extremely vulnerable,” Sabine says.
She explains that women often arrive carrying children, luggage, and the trauma of displacement: “Some are living with chronic illnesses like HIV, and many were unable to access treatment during their journey. This has left them physically and emotionally weakened.” Sabine also highlighted the prevalence of sexual violence: “Many survivors reported being raped in their country of origin and during their flight. Some of them became pregnant as a result. The perpetrators were mostly unknown to them and often identified as military personnel.”
What is the strategic foundation of your work?
Sabine: “Our strategy is based on the UNHCR GBV policy on GBV prevention, response and risk mitigation. The GBV prevention and response in the current emergency situation is focused on training and capacity building, establishing a strong referral pathway, promoting safe disclosure, community engagement and accountability, coordination with partners and authorities, and developing SOPs to operationalize our work. We also provide dignity kits, holistic case management, and women led organisation empowerment. These efforts aim to ensure that survivors receive comprehensive support from medical care, safety and security, psychosocial assistance and access to justice.”
What are the main challenges you’ve encountered in working with GBV in Burundi and how have you addressed them?
Sabine: “One of the biggest challenges is the legal restriction on abortion, even in cases of rape. Survivors have to carry pregnancies to term, which leads to stigma and emotional trauma. We’ve tried to advocate with health facilities and authorities, but the law is very clear.”
Another challenge, she mentions, is the shortage of dignity kits: “We receive very few, and they’re not enough to meet the needs. Sometimes, the kits don’t even contain appropriate items. We conducted a post-distribution monitoring survey, and the feedback was clear: the contents need to be revised to reflect the needs and dignity of the women.”
I believe that empowering local women to lead is essential for long-term impact
How have you contributed to strengthening GBV coordination mechanisms in Burundi? What capacity-building initiatives have you led?
Sabine: “I co-lead the GBV inter agency Task Force with UNFPA and government intuitions. We also hold regular case management conferences where we bring together all GBV case managers and other sectors to discuss complex cases and find solutions collaboratively. We’ve trained around 200 people, including refugees and host community members, on safe disclosure of GBV cases, referral pathways, PSEA and GBV prevention. I also provide one-on-one coaching to case managers, especially since many are new and need support in handling sensitive cases.”
How have you engaged local authorities and communities in strengthening GBV mechanisms?
Sabine: “We try to involve both host and refugee communities in our activities. For example, during training sessions, we include participants from the host community. We also involve them in events such as international days celebration and service provision. This helps foster peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. The relationship between the host community and refugees is peaceful. We try to support this by including both groups in distributions and awareness campaigns.”
Sabine Nana and colleagues by the Rusizi River which is crossed by many refugees seeking protection in Burundi.
UNHCR/Tom Monboe
Launched in June 2024 with the aim to enhance UNHCR's capacity to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection risks in both emergency and protracted settings.
Seasoned experts within GBV and child protection are employed by DRC on roving contracts and deploy to changing UNHCR operations worldwide based on UNHCR's operational needs.
Six experts were deployed through the deployment scheme in 2024 to operations in Chad, Mauritania, Panama, Tanzania, and Dominican Republic.
There are currently four experts on contract under the UNHCR-DRC GBV & Child Protection Deployment Scheme.
Reflecting on your recent deployment as GBV Officer to UNHCR in Farchana, Chad, what lessons have you been able to apply during your current deployment?
Sabine: “One of the most impactful lessons I brought from Chad is the importance of women-led organizations in GBV prevention. In Chad, these groups were deeply embedded in the community and played a central role in outreach, survivor support, and awareness-raising. They were trusted voices, and their presence made our interventions more sustainable and culturally grounded. Here in Burundi, we are actively working to identify potential women-led organisations within the refugee community and mixed ones. It’s not easy—many of these communities are still in flux, and formal structures are limited—but I believe that empowering local women to lead is essential for long-term impact.”
Another key takeaway from Chad, Sabine emphasizes, was the success of EMAP—Engaging Men through Accountable Practices: “EMAP was a game-changer, it helped shift harmful gender norms by involving men and boys in conversations about accountability, respect, and non-violence”.
However, Sabine acknowledges the challenges of replicating such a program in a short deployment: “EMAP takes time—at least 8 to 12 months to implement properly. With limited time on the ground, it’s hard to see it through from start to finish. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. If we can lay the groundwork and then hand it over to trained local staff, the impact can still be significant. It’s about planting seeds. Even if we don’t see the full results during our deployment, we can create the conditions for change to take root.”
This is an emergency. Every day brings new challenges. You need to be ready to adapt, to listen, and to act quickly.
What are your top priorities for strengthening GBV prevention and improving access to services for survivors in Rutana?
Sabine: “One of my top priorities is to bring local government authorities into the fold. Right now, their presence in GBV prevention and response is minimal. There’s no dedicated staff focusing on GBV issues which would lend legitimacy to our efforts and encourage broader community participation.”
She continues: “Another critical area is improving access to services for survivors, especially in a way that respects their dignity and privacy. That’s partly due to logistical constraints, but also because of the sensitive nature of GBV. We’re very cautious not to expose survivors or create situations where they might be stigmatized. To address this, we’re exploring community-wide awareness campaigns that don’t single out survivors but instead promote general knowledge about GBV, available services, and how to seek help safely. Survivors are never approached directly in their homes or communities. Instead, we invite them to the case management center, where they can speak confidentially with trained staff. This approach helps protect their anonymity while still ensuring they can access the support they need.”
What would be your advice for other deployees going on mission to Burundi?
Sabine: “They should monitor the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo closely, as it directly affects refugee influx. Be prepared for a rapid onset of emergency response—it’s intense and requires quick, coordinated action. Also, understanding Congolese culture and gender dynamics is crucial for effective GBV programming.”
She concludes with a reminder: “This is an emergency. Every day brings new challenges. You need to be ready to adapt, to listen, and to act quickly.”
