Washington, May 7 -- Thousands of Congolese refugees who fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are now living in extremely precarious conditions in the designated Musenyi site in Burundi . Meedecins Sans Frontieeres (MSF) has launched an emergency response to reduce the risk of measles and malaria, but more support is needed as people's humanitarian needs remain largely unmet.

Since the beginning of the year, thousands of people have fled fighting and insecurity in the provinces of North and South Kivu in the DRC. Crossing the Rusizi river into Burundi, they have hastily set up camp in schools, sheds, churches and stadiums in the province of Cibitoke on the border with South Kivu.

In March, the Burundian authorities an...