Programs action medeor

After the internal political crisis in Burundi in 2015, the political situation in the country has stabilized somewhat, but more than 50,000 Burundian refugees are still living in the neighbouring DR Congo. Most of the refugees are in the South Kivu region, which is already one of the poorest regions of the DR Congo.

action medeor has been committed to helping Burundian refugees and the population in South Kivu since the beginning of the refugee movements from Burundi in 2015. The regional program launched in 2022 is implemented together with partner organizations in the DR Congo and Burundi and aims to improve health, water and sanitation services for Burundian refugees, internally displaced persons and the local population in the province of South Kivu in the DR Congo and in four districts of Burundi. Special consideration is given to the needs of people with disabilities, older people, survivors of sexualized violence, people affected by HIV, people with albinism, as well as children and women who are acutely malnourished.

Improving the provision of healthcare

The program includes a variety of measures to sustainably improve healthcare in the region. These include supporting 38 health facilities with medicines and medical consumables, awareness-raising measures among the population to prevent Covid-19 and other diseases and pharmaceutical advice on quality assurance in the procurement of medicines. In addition, 13 healthcare facilities are being expanded and renovated and equipped with the necessary water and sanitation infrastructure, among other things. In order to sustainably improve healthcare in the region, medical professionals are also being recruited and trained and the regional health authorities are being advised on how to better deal with epidemics and disasters in particular.

Support for victims of sexualized violence

To support people who have experienced sexualized violence, the project offers holistic counselling and treatment by specially trained staff in the health facilities. To enable this support, the facilities are equipped with the necessary shelters.

Improving the nutritional situation

Both in Burundi and in the DR Congo, an alarmingly high number of people are affected by food insecurity. This is also where the project comes in - among other things through outpatient and inpatient treatment of acute malnutrition and undernourishment, advice for mothers, pregnant and breastfeeding women on nutrition and health issues and screening in the communities by trained staff in order to identify children at risk and treat them in good time.

Improving water supply and sanitation

Inadequate water and sanitation is a key factor in the outbreak and spread of diseases. For this reason, the project includes a wide range of measures to improve the supply of drinking water and sanitation in the project region: For example, the construction and expansion of drinking water supplies, the distribution of 10,000 water canisters - but also the construction of 1,800 family latrines and 144 hand-washing facilities in medical facilities and public places.