Thursday 7 May 2015 09.56 BST
Thousands of people have been arriving in Bugesera, Rwanda, in the past few weeks to escape pre-election violence in Burundi after President Pierre Nkurunziza declared his intention to stand for a third term. Of more than 40,000 Burundians who fled in the past month, more than half crossed into Rwanda
At Bugesera reception centre in Rwanda, Jeanne, Félicité and Brigitte eat their evening meal, having fled Burundi because of political violence. They are among roughly 23,000 Burundian refugees who have arrived in Rwanda over the past few weeks
All photographs: Kate Holt/UNHCR
Charles, the son of Jeanne, in the tent that is their temporary home. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says most of the refugees have come from the northern province of Kirondo
The three women were neighbours in Bujumbura and decided to escape pre-election violence and flee together, along with their 10 children. Jeanne had a good job in Bujumbura; she owned a restaurant. When she saw that the situation was getting worse, she realised her only chance to stay safe and protect her children was to leave everything and head for Rwanda
Salvatore, Esperanza and their children arrived in Rwanda on 2 May, after seven hours’ walk through the bush from Burundi
Kemegie Nkurikiye, a 90-year-old refugee from Burundi, arrived at the Bugesera reception centre on 22 April with his wife and young son. He still doesn’t have a place to sleep in the centre. ‘I am sleeping under the trees and it is cold,’ he says
Jeanette Hadidja (wearing a green scarf) fled Burundi at 5am on 3 May, and arrived at Kamavuye, Rwanda, after trekking for nine hours through the bush
A young girl carries water at the reception centre
Burundian refugees at the centre wait for assistance in the rain. While the majority of refugees have gone to Rwanda, almost 4,000 have headed for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the UNHCR
Bernard Twayelayezo, a 20-year-old refugee from Burundi, holds his baby Jodopes in their tent at the Bugesera reception centre. ‘It is very cold in this tent and when it rains it leaks,’ he says
Regina Mukwande, pictured at Bugesera, was also displaced by political unrest in 2005 and was a refugee in Congo
Paul Kenya, right, registers refugees from Burundi as they board a bus to take them to the new Mahama refugee camp, in south-east Rwanda
Refugees cook a meal of boiled corn and beans
Jeanette Hadidja and her family arrive in Rwanda at Kamayuye on 3 May. Unrest has spread since President Pierre Nkurunziza declared he would stand for a third term, with intimidation by pro-government youth militia driving thousands from their homes
More:
Burundi: thousands flee to Rwanda as protests grip capital before June poll
Protesters chant anti-government slogans during clashes with riot police in Bujumbura. Photograph: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
Published:30 Apr 2015
Burundian refugee children at the Gashora refugee camp in the Bugesera district of Rwanda. Photograph: Edmund Kagire/AP
Women flee after recent clashes between riot police and protesters against the ruling CNDD-FDD party’s decision to allow Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third term as president. Photograph: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
Burundian riot police face stone-throwing demonstrators during clashes in the Musaga district of Bujumbura. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP
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