Burundi (inactive)
Humanity & Inclusion worked in Burundi for 26 years to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities.
Thierry was born without his left leg. He can go to school with his artificial limb provided by Humanity & Inclusion. | © Evrard Niyomwungere / HI
Our actions
Humanity & Inclusion began working in Burundi in 1992. On December 31, 2018, the organization stopped its activities in the country. HI no longer felt able to carry out its projects due to decisions by the Burundian government regarding international NGOs, including a new obligation to register and report the ethnicity of its employees.
With its partners, HI completed the following activities between 2017 and 2018:
- Provided rehabilitation care to more than 10,000 people
- Trained more than 800 health professionals
- Raised the awareness of 85,000 children on violence prevention, including sexual assault prevention
- Supported 400 children with disabilities or victims of violence
- Helped 10,000 children access school
- Provided vocational training to nearly 500 young people
- Raised the awareness of 60,000 people with disabilities on their rights and their social participation.
Areas of intervention
Latest stories
More than 10,000 refugees in Burundi: HI assisting the most vulnerable
Following ongoing clashes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 10,000 people, mostly Congolese, have taken refuge in the south and southwest of Burundi since 24th January 2018. HI is preparing to launch an emergency response in aid of these refugees.
African States against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas
From 27th to 28th November, Handicap International (HI) is organizing a regional conference on the bombing of civilians. The Conference will take place in Maputo, Mozambique and aims to bring together some 20 States, 10 African civil society organizations and international NGOs. The goal is to raise awareness of this vital challenge among African countries and to encourage them to take action on the world stage to protect civilians from the devastating impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
Preventing sexual violence against children
The Ubuntu Care1 project combats sexual violence against children, particularly children with disabilities, in Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda. Launched in November 2012, it has already provided care and treatment to 600 child victims of sexual violence. Regional coordinator Sofia Hedjam describes the program and its achievements.
a life
Background
In Burundi, one of the world’s poorest countries, health remains a challenge for many people. Burundi is also a haven for Congolese refugees.
More than 67% of the Burundian population lives below the poverty line. The country is experiencing relatively weak economic growth and suffers from high inflation. It is also one of the most densely populated African countries. The 2014 Human Development Index ranks Burundi 184th out of 187.
In the health sector, Burundi has some disturbing statistics on neonatal and maternal mortality rates. For the past 15 years, pregnancy and childbirth rank third among recorded causes of death in hospitals. Many women develop an obstetric fistula, or severe tear, as a result of a difficult delivery, or lose their lives during childbirth.
In terms of mortality, women and children under five pay a heavy price and are at risk. The origins of many physical and mental difficulties include chronic diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, mental illnesses, as well as physical violence, sexual violence, road accidents and war.
Since 1993, the effects of regional political and security instability have led to significant population movements: refugees, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where there are also thousands of internally displaced persons. Since April 2015, following the volatile political climate in the country, hundreds of thousands of Burundians have fled to Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
