Burundi

=__//BURUNDI//__= <<This is a refugee camp in Burundi where many men, women, and children stay until they can return to their country or until they are granted "refugee status." As one can see, Burundi has a vibrant culture (1). You may have heard about the genocide that happened in Rwanda between two ethnic groups but this atrocious event is also occurring in the neighboring country of Burundi. Burundi is a country located in central Africa and is bordered by Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. It has a population of 7,548,000 people and is the third poorest country in the world. The three main languages spoken are French, Swahili, and Kirundi although many other tribal languages are also spoken. The genocide started in 1972 between the Hutu and the Tutsi tribes. In Burundi, 85% of the population is Hutu and 14% is Tutsi. Two cease-fires have been signed in May 2005 and September 2006, but the conflict still rages on. More than one million people have been killed and it will continue until the U.N. or another peace-keeping force intervenes. Even though the many thousand refugees have witnessed horrible things, they still have hope for a brighter future.

1. Horent, Yves. __Rushubi Camp for Internally Displaced People__. 2002. __A New Crisis in Burundi__. European Comission. 6 May 2007 