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Masses of Burundi refugees show up in Tanzania

The World Health Organization reports between 500 and 2,000 people are arriving daily in the tiny fishing village of Kagunga. At least seven have died of severe diarrhea.

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Jerome Delay/AP
Demonstrators rally past a barricade in the Burundi capital on Tuesday. A climate of fear has engulfed the city, as President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government cracks down on the people suspected to have been involved in an attempted coup a week ago.
  • By Rodney Muhumuza Associated Press

| Kampala, Uganda

Cholera and severe diarrhea have broken out among tens of thousands of refugees from Burundi who are jammed into a village in Tanzania on the edge of Lake Tanganyika, with the Burundians overwhelming the health infrastructure and sanitation facilities, aid agencies said Tuesday.

Between 500 and 2,000 people are arriving daily in the tiny fishing village of Kagunga, the World Health Organization said. The refugees have abandoned their country because of fears of political violence in the run-up to June elections, in which their president is seeking a third term. His candidacy has triggered demonstrations for three weeks in Burundi's capital and amid the chaos, some military officer launched a coup last week, which failed within two days.

Kagunga's original population of 11,382 has increased to over 90,000 since April, WHO said in a statement. There is not enough safe water for drinking.

With Kagunga surrounded by mountains, the refugees must wait to board a 100-year-old ship and make the three-hour trip to the port of Kigoma, the International Rescue Committee said. The ship is transporting 600 passengers twice daily, leaving those who remain behind in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, the aid group said.

The IRC said it is providing medical care in Kagunga, on the boat and at a transit camp in Kigoma. After making it to Kigoma, around 16,000 refugees have moved on to Nyarugusu refugee camp, a journey of up to four hours by road.

Cases of acute diarrhea and cholera have been confirmed, according to WHO.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees office reported on Sunday that at least seven Burundian refugees had died of severe diarrhea.

Demonstrators in Bujumbura, Burundi's capital, say they will continue to protest until President Pierre Nkurunziza steps down at the end of his second term.

Burundi's constitution states a president can be popularly elected to a five-year terms, renewable once. Mr. Nkurunziza maintains he can run for a third term because parliament elected him for his first one. Opponents say a third term violates the constitution and peace accords that ended a civil war.

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