More than 800 boarding students at Lycée Don Bosco in Ngozi are facing serious water shortages, with pupils reportedly forced to collect water from nearby swamps for their daily needs.

The shortage is affecting both education and hygiene at the Catholic-affiliated school in northern Burundi. Students say the time spent searching for water is interfering with their studies, while limited access to clean water is making it harder to maintain sanitary conditions.

The situation has drawn particular attention because Burundi is simultaneously conducting school-based awareness activities on preventing diseases including cholera, Ebola and mpox, making reliable access to safe water especially important.

During a recent visit to Ngozi, First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye was informed of the students' difficulties and said she would work toward finding a solution.

The water shortage now puts pressure on authorities and local stakeholders to restore reliable access to clean water at the school and protect students' health and education.