"Eve Bazaiba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Minister of Social Affairs, warned on Saturday of what she described as a growing humanitarian crisis facing Congolese refugees in Burundi and Tanzania, driven by ongoing fighting with M23 militants. Speaking at a press conference in Kinshasa, Bazaiba described the displacement as a 'human tragedy', blaming renewed violence in eastern DRC. “They didn't flee the country because of poverty or climate problems, but because of the hostilities they are victims of, because of the Rwandan aggression perpetrated by the M23 proxies,” she said. The minister accused the militants of exploiting civilians’ hopes of returning home by signalling calm, only to resume attacks. “The latest wave of attacks occurred while the Washington agreement was being signed, when the population felt hopeful for the return of peace. Well, it was at that moment that the bombings took place […] that's what really happened, that's the manipulation of the population," she added. According to Bazaiba, around 337,000 Congolese civilians are currently sheltering in refugee camps across Burundi and Tanzania. In Burundi, refugees are hosted across seven main sites. Busuma camp alone shelters nearly 67,000 people, including around 30,000 children and 2,200 unaccompanied minors aged between three and 14, most of them under 10, the minister said. In neighbouring Tanzania, she reported that around 87,000 Congolese refugees are living in camps, including some 50,000 children. “Who are out of school, who live in concentration, and life is not normal,” Bazaiba added. The latest displacement comes as fighting continues in eastern DRC despite a US-brokered ceasefire and economic agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Kinshasa maintains that the M23 is backed by Rwanda, an accusation Kigali has consistently denied."