The situation at displacement camps in Burundi is extremely dire as the country experiences its largest influx of refugees, fleeing fighting in Congo, in decades, the UN's Refugee Agency warned on Friday.

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA (Reuters) -Conflict in Congo has sent 63,000 refugees fleeing to neighbouring Burundi in its largest such influx in decades, with conditions dire at a crammed stadium camp and many stuck in fields outside,

Economic hardship exacerbates the crisis, as transportation costs to the border have skyrocketed—tripling in just two weeks—making it unaffordable for many to flee to safety.

The aid response in Burundi to the crisis in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “is literally buckling”, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, warned on Friday, as it relayed dramatic testimonies from people forced to flee the unchecked advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

"Being the first plastic and reconstructive surgeon in my country is a great honour," Dr. Baramburiye said. "But it's also a huge load on my shoulders, a lot of pressure."

As conflict in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues, thousands are still crossing the border into Burundi in what has become the largest influx the country has experienced in decades.

The first hearing in Sandra Muhoza's appeal was due to take place on 4 March, but has been postponed without justification. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) repeats its call for the immediate release of the Burundian journalist,

As the conflict continues to ravage the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bishops are warning about the real possibility of the violence spreading throughout the entire Great Lakes region of Africa.

The 25-year-old clung on to a black bin bag with some possessions as he used the strong currents to navigate his way across the Rusizi river, which forms the border between DR Congo and Burundi.

A rally organized by M23 rebels in Bukavu, Eastern DRC, turned tragic as grenade explosions resulted in 11 fatalities and 65 injuries. Corneille Nangaa, leading the rebel alliance, revealed in a press conference that the grenades matched those used by Burundi's army in Congo.