Hurt … Home … Hope
Burundian Map and Flag
• Burundi is a small, densely populated, landlocked country in Central Africa with a population of 8.7 million in
an area of 27,834 km² (that’s over 2 times smaller than Tasmania!!).
• Since its independence in 1962, Burundi has known a troubled existence with several waves of
inter-ethnic violence which have left their mark on the social fabric of society and on the economy of the
country. The most recent crisis started in 1993 (with a coup d’état) and slowly worsened over the years
1994 and 1995. It resulted in several hundred thousand people killed, a massive movement of Internally
Displaced People and an exodus of refugees fleeing to neighbouring countries.
•
The country is now slowly rebuilding … and you are a part of it!
Burundi Flag Description
The flag is divided by a white diagonal
cross into red panels (top and bottom)
and green panels (hoist side and fly
side) with a white disk superimposed at
the centre bearing three red six-pointed
stars outlined in green arranged in a
triangular design (one star above, two
stars below). Green symbolizes hope
and optimism, white, purity and peace,
and red the blood shed in the struggle
for independence. The three stars in
the disk represent the three major
ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well
as the three elements in the national
motto: unity, work, progress.
For further information contact
Email: [email protected]
Ph: 1300 763 407
Web: www.alws.org.au
Australian Lutheran World Service
Awareness Week
Hurt … Home … Hope
Focus on Burundi and Sudan
Dare to
Dream a
Different World