Burundi

Refugees in Rwanda, May 2015

In May 2015 thousands of people arrived in Bugesera, Rwanda, from Burundi to escape escalating pre-election violence in Burundi after President Pierre Nkurunziza declared his intention to stand for a third term. Of more than 40,000 Burundians who fled during this time more than half crossed into Rwanda.

An elderly woman waits with her belongings to be registered in Bugesera Reception Centre, Bugesera, Rwanda Friday, May 1, 2015. In Bugesera thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than twenty three thousand Burundian refugees have crossed into Rwanda since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
A mother who has fled from Burundi because of political unrest nurses her sick child in Bugesera Reception Centre, Bugesera, Rwanda Friday, May 1, 2015. In Bugesera thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than twenty three thousand Burundian refugees have crossed into Rwanda since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Burundian refugees wait to board a UNHCR bus, eight kilometres from the Burundian/Rwandan border, which they crossed by foot, in Kamabuye, Rwanda, on Friday, May 1, 2015. Thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than twenty three thousand Burundian refugees have crossed into Rwanda since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Salvatore, Esperanza and their children pose for a photograph after arriving from Burundi into Rwanda at Kamavuye, Rwanda, on the 2nd May, 2015. . They fled Burundi at 4am and reached Rwanda after 7 hours walk through the bush. They are among some 25,000 Burundian refugees who have fled Burundi and have arrived in Rwanda over the past few weeks.
Jeanette, (green scarf) Hadidja pose for a photograph after arriving from Burundi into Rwanda at Kamavuye, Rwanda, on the 3rd May, 2015. . They fled Burundi at 5am and reached Rwanda after 9 hours walk through the bush. They are among some 25,000 Burundian refugees who have fled Burundi and have arrived in Rwanda over the past few weeks.
The body of Macumi Esperanza, a Burundian Refugee who died from a respirtory problem, is wrapped in a UNHCR blanket and put in a simiple coffin for burial in Bugesera, Rwanda Sunday, May 3, 2015. In Bugesera thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than twenty three thousand Burundian refugees have crossed into Rwanda since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
An elderly woman who has fled from Burundi waits for assistance in Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda Wednesday, May 6, 2015. In Mahama thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than thirty two thousand Burundian refugees have fled Burundi since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Children stand in front on UNHCR tents in Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda Wednesday, May 6, 2015. In Mahama thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than thirty two thousand Burundian refugees have fled Burundi since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Newly arrived refugees from Burundi register with a member of the Red Cross at in Nyagurusu Camp in Mekere, Tanzania on the 8th June, 2015. Thousands of Burundian refugees have fled ongoing political violence in Burundi. (Photo Kate Holt)
Refugees who have fled ongoing political unrest in Burundi go about their early morning tasks in the Nyagurusu Refugee camp in Mekere, Tanzania Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Thosuands of people have fled Burundia in recent weeks with over fifty thousand arriving into Tanzania. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Refugees who have fled ongoing political unrest in Burundi go about their early morning tasks in the Nyagurusu Refugee camp in Mekere, Tanzania Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Thosuands of people have fled Burundia in recent weeks with over fifty thousand arriving into Tanzania. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Refugees who have fled ongoing political unrest in Burundi go about their early morning tasks in the Nyagurusu Refugee camp in Mekere, Tanzania Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Thosuands of people have fled Burundia in recent weeks with over fifty thousand arriving into Tanzania. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Refugees who have fled ongoing political unrest in Burundi go about their early morning tasks in the Nyagurusu Refugee camp in Mekere, Tanzania Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Thosuands of people have fled Burundia in recent weeks with over fifty thousand arriving into Tanzania. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Refugees who have fled ongoing political unrest in Burundi go about their early morning tasks in the Nyagurusu Refugee camp in Mekere, Tanzania Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Thosuands of people have fled Burundia in recent weeks with over fifty thousand arriving into Tanzania. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
A young Burundian Refugee boy eats a bowl of beans and corn in Bugesera Reception Centre, Bugesera, Rwanda Friday, May 1, 2015. In Bugesera thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than twenty three thousand Burundian refugees have crossed into Rwanda since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
A woman who has fled poltical violence in Burundi cradles her baby behind a mosquito net in Bugesera Reception Centre, Bugesera, Rwanda Friday, May 1, 2015. In Bugesera thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than twenty three thousand Burundian refugees have crossed into Rwanda since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Sibomana, 6 years old (seated) and his sister Nina( standing with shawl) who is 8 years old, wait with other family members for their meal of boiled corn and beans to be ready in the evening light in Bugesera Reception Centre, Bugesera, Rwanda Friday, May 1, 2015. In Bugesera thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than twenty three thousand Burundian refugees have crossed into Rwanda since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Burundian refugees wait for assistance in Bugesera Reception Centre, Bugesera, Rwanda Saturday, May 2, 2015. In Bugesera thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than twenty three thousand Burundian refugees have crossed into Rwanda since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)
Jeanne, Félicite and Brigitte are have their photograph taken in the tent they are temporarily living in at Bugeshera Reception Centre, having fled Burundi because of ongoing political violence, in Bugashera Rwanda on 4th May, 2015. They are among the 25,000 Burundian refugees who have fled pre-election violence in Burundi and have arrived in Rwanda over the past few weeks. They were neighbours in Bujumbura and decided to flee together with their 10 children last Thursday (26 April).

They had good jobs in Bujumbura. Felicite was in a medical school to become a para medical staff and was doing an internship at the hospital. Brigitte was a small vendor at the market and Jeanne had a restaurant. When they saw that the situation was getting worse they realized that their only choice to stay safe and to protect their children was to leave everything behind and to flee.
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A woman carries her child in Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda Wednesday, May 6, 2015. In Mahama thousands of people have arrived in the last few weeks, fleeing fear of violence in Burundi. More than thirty two thousand Burundian refugees have fled Burundi since the beginning of April. ( Photo/KATE HOLT)