Burundi

Messages from Burundi

Information about Burundi

Hospitals in Burundi

Geography and population

Burundi is a country in the heart of Africa, bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Between 1993 and 1999, ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions resulted in the deaths of at least 250,000 Burundians whilst forcing hundreds of thousands of refugees out of their homes. Although a good number of refugees have since returned from the neighbouring countries, unrelenting violence has also prompted many others to flee their homes.
Situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Bujumbura is Burundi’s capital, the country’s largest city with an estimated 300,000 residents (1994). Bujumbura is also the country’s administrative and economic centre. The principal industries are textiles and soap manufacturing. Bujumbura is also Burundi’s principal “port”, shipping coffee beans, cotton, and tin ore.

Less than 10% of the population lives in the towns. 21 % of the population has no access to clean drinking water.

No figures are known as to the number of mobile phones in use but 3 out of every 1,000 persons have access to the Internet.

Subtitle Health care

Due to the civil war, Burundi faces a huge shortage of doctors and nursing staff: over a population of approximately 8 million, the country has 200 doctors and 2,500 nurses. Because of the considerable distances, the high hills, poor roads and extreme poverty, it is often impossible for people to get the medical help they need.

Missions in Burundi

Active missions in Burundi

Past missions inBurundi