Since the crossing points are in remote areas, where there is no water, sanitation, shelter or medical facilities to support a large influx of people, the sanitation conditions are quickly deteriorating. The risk of spreading endemic diseases, including cholera outbreak, poses major risks, since the hosting districts are already vulnerable to preventable diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea, which are endemic in the region.

Tens of thousands are in urgent need of clean water, health care, food and shelter. Without these basic needs being met, the risk of disease spreading among new arrivals is dangerously high. The now congested Kagunga beach on lake Tanganyika is hazardous to health as the living conditions are worsening with some of the refugees being forced to drink water from the lake as the area has no sufficient facilities for clean water. Lack of enough medical facilities to serve the large numbers makes it impossible to fully attend to those in need of medical care, they can only receive basic medical attention.

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