Burundi is facing a rapidly worsening humanitarian situation as more than 40,000 people have fled there in two weeks to escape fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.N. said on Friday.

Burundi on Monday said that close to 10 000 people had fled across its western border from the Democratic Republic of Congo over the last three days as Rwanda-backed forces advance there.

Burundi is facing a rapidly worsening humanitarian situation as more than 40,000 people have fled there in two weeks to escape fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.N. said on Friday (February 21).

The United Nations humanitarians have said that escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, has continued to uproot thousands more people to neighbouring countries where they face dire conditions without many basic necessities.