WHY Uvira’s Humanitarian Crisis Is Deepening in 2026

Uvira, the second‑largest city in South Kivu province, sits in a region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that has endured repeated displacement cycles for years. A January situation overview from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) paints a stark picture: armed clashes around Kigongo, Katongo and Lemera since December 2025 pushed more than 50,000 people from their homes, and assessments by the Norwegian Refugee Council found over 33,000 internally displaced people (about 5,262 households) taking refuge mainly with host families in the Lemera health zone as reported by actualite. cd.

At the same time, about 70,000 people (11,141 households) who fled earlier fighting have recently returned, but they too lack essentials like food, shelter, water, sanitation and healthcare. OCHA warns that persistent insecurity including looting between 18–19 January that affected seven humanitarian organisations continues to hamper aid delivery.

The roots of this crisis lie in a combination of resurgent violence and fragile governance. The abrupt occupation of Uvira by the M23/AFC coalition in early December 2025 disrupted administration and forced many local officials to seek refuge across the border; although rebels withdrew under international pressure later that month, their departure did not bring stability.

OCHA notes that sporadic clashes and armed incursions have continued into 2026, increasing protection risks and constraining humanitarian access. With tens of thousands of displaced people sheltering with relatives or in makeshift centres, aid groups struggle to deliver supplies and services amid security threats. The return of displaced families also strains host communities, deepening food insecurity and health risks.

Another factor choking Uvira’s recovery is the closure of the Gatumba–Kavimvira border crossing with Burundi a lifeline for trade and movement in the Great Lakes region. Local journalists report that a month after the rebels’ withdrawal, commercial activities in Uvira have resumed only hesitantly, with 3‑4 boats docking daily at Kalundu port compared with around fifteen before the crisis.

Residents and merchants are pleading for the border to reopen, but the Burundi government insists security conditions are still not met. The prolonged closure has made food and basic goods scarce, driving prices up and increasing hardship for families.

The return of state services is similarly sluggish.

Provincial authorities toured Uvira on 17 February 2026 to assess the resumption of border posts, port operations and municipal offices, but many civil servants, judges and teachers remain stranded in Burundi. According to regional media, the border has been closed since 10 December 2025, and while officials once hoped to reopen it by the end of January, those hopes were dashed amid continued security concerns.

Until violence subsides and cross‑border links are restored, tens of thousands of displaced people and returnees in Uvira will remain stuck in limbo unable to rebuild their lives and dependent on a humanitarian response that is itself under siege.