Hope Amid Hunger: Food Distribution Brings Life to Refugees in Rutana Camp, Burundi
In the southeastern province of Burundi, a crisis is unfolding with quiet urgency. Rutana Refugee Camp, once a temporary sanctuary, is now home to over 119,000 Congolese refugees—more than 18,000 households—fleeing brutal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks the largest refugee influx into Burundi in decades, and conditions in the camp are deteriorating rapidly.
A Humanitarian Emergency
The refugees, many of whom arrived with nothing, face critical shortages of food, shelter, medicine, and basic hygiene. The situation is dire, particularly for the most vulnerable. In just two weeks, multiple children under the age of five succumbed to malnutrition in Musenyi refugee camp, located in Giharo district, part of the Rutana province. Refugees and local medical sources speak of a severe humanitarian emergency, exacerbated by insufficient resources and support.
Children are among the hardest hit. Some arrived at the camp alone, having lost or been separated from their families. These children receive no regular food, sleep in open spaces, and suffer greatly when the rains come, exposing them to disease and misery.
A Response of Compassion: Foursquare Burundi Steps In
In the midst of this overwhelming need, Foursquare Burundi launched a food distribution project in partnership with Foursquare Disaster Relief that brought both relief and renewed hope to hundreds of families. Partnering with local leaders and supported by a deep commitment to both physical and spiritual restoration, the team distributed a month’s worth of food to 400 households—benefiting between 2,400 and 2,700 people.
But the mission went beyond food.
Foursquare Burundi also established a church within the camp, which now serves as both a distribution center and a spiritual home for the displaced. In just the first month, over 200 people came to Christ, forming a new community of faith and healing within the camp’s fragile environment.
“This church has become more than a building,” shared Bishop Serges, national leader of Foursquare Burundi. “It is now a center of hope—a place where people receive not just food, but love, dignity, and purpose.”
Lives Touched and Transformed
So far, over 2,800 people have been fed through this project. Many, including those previously unreached, are now attending church and finding strength in a new community. The ripple effect extends beyond the camp as local Foursquare leaders from neighboring areas have stepped in to support and guide this emerging church.
The impact is undeniable. Lives are being saved, hearts are being changed, and a beacon of light has been lit in one of the darkest corners of this crisis.
Looking Ahead: A Call to Continue
While this first wave of aid has brought tremendous impact, the need remains great. With countless children still unfed, families exposed to the elements, and medical supplies running thin, ongoing support is essential. Yet amid the hardship, there is hope—rooted not only in humanitarian aid, but in the power of love, faith, and community.
This project proves that even in the face of unimaginable suffering, transformation is possible. By meeting both physical and spiritual needs, we are not only feeding bodies—we are restoring lives.