OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
21-27 Apr 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Humanitarian Activities
1. Bujumbura Rural Province: UNICEF distributes Non-Food Items

Following a two-day assessment [22 and 23 April] conducted together by
UNICEF and the INGO International Rescue Committee (IRC), UNICEF, through
its partners International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Catholic Relief
Service (CRS), provided non-food items such as soap, blankets, jerry cans,
plastic plates and plastic sheeting targeting over 500 families from
mainly 2 "hills" in Kanyosha Commune.  Those families were identified as
living dispersed in other households since they fled the fighting between
Army forces and rebels groups including CNDD-FDD and Palipehutu-FNL [17
April]. "Their houses were looted during and after the fighting and they
are in desperate need of basic relief items in order to go back to their
destroyed houses and rebuild their lives again," said the organisations
involved.

UNICEF's emergency interventions are mainly funded by the European
Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), US Agency for International
Development/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), the
Governments of Sweden and Norway and the UNICEF National Committees in
Belgium and Netherlands.

2. UN Commission on Human Rights adopts measures on situation in Burundi

The motion on the situation of human rights in Burundi was adopted without
a vote and expressed the Commission's support of the political transition
underway in the country.  While welcoming numerous steps taken by the
Transitional Government to enhance human rights and re-establish
democracy, it also encouraged the Transitional Government to continue
actions aimed at including all sectors of society in national
reconciliation efforts and urged it to pursue the goal of ensuring the
equal participation of women in Burundian society and improving their
living conditions.  The text did, however, express continued concern at
the ongoing violence and the violations of human rights as well as the
security situation in parts of the country.

3. Returnees as at 12 April 2003

UNHCR (Burundi): Report 7,782 facilitated and 5,999 spontaneous returnees
Y.T.D.


Security

4. More bombing in Burundi's capital

Security continues to be disturbed here in Bujumbura Town.  More bombs
[total: 6] have been launched [night of 24 to 25 April] in the
neighbourhoods of Bujumbura airport.  On the night of 19 to 20 April, 15
bombs were fired on Rohero and Kinindo Zones from the shores of Lake
Tanganyika.  Three people have been injured, 12 houses and one vehicle
destroyed.

5. On-going fighting in several parts of the country

Several people reported killed due to intensive fighting between the Army
and Palipehutu-FNL rebels since 23 April on the communal centre of Kabezi,
Bujumbura Rural Province.  In Kayanza Province, clashes which broke out
between the Army and CNDD-FDD rebels in Rango, Butaganzwa and Matongo
communes since 23 April made 2 killed and 2 wounded (administration
source).  In Bubanza Province following reported rebel presence in Rugazi
Commune, Ruce Zone, over 10,000 people fleeing insecurity sought refuge in
Muyebe area [Bubanza Province], as the Army started fighting CNDD-FDD
rebels [22 April].

In Ruyigi Province, CNDD-FDD rebels (Pierre Nkurunziza) dropped 11 to 14
shells to the town of Ruyigi [eve of 21-22 April].  No human losses
reported, but material damage included offices of the INGO MSF Holland,
International Rescue Committee (IRC), Action Against Hunger (ACF).  Over
this week, intense fighting has been reported between the Army and rebel
groups following rebel attacks in Gishubi Commune (Gitega Province),
Kabezi Commune (Bujumbura Rural Province).

6. General

Rutana Province: An OTRACO bus (government public transport company)
ambushed at Mwishanga area: 1 killed, several wounded [20 April].

Over 15 fishermen from Kanyosha area reported missing since Sunday 20
April

Ambush Rumonge-Nyanza Lac road (Gatete zone) by the CNDD-FDD rebels
(Pierre Nkurunziza): No human losses reported, but all passengers'
belongings stolen [22 April].

Kayanza Province, Rango Commune: Fighting has been reported between the
Army and CNDD-FDD rebels [23 April].

Makamba Province, Makamba Commune: One guardian of peace and his wife
reported killed by a group of CNDD-FDD rebels [night of 22 to 23 April].

Fishing activities suspended on Lake Tanganyika littoral (Magara-Gatumba)
following the bomb attack on Bujumbura town [19 April].

Rutana Province, Rutana Commune, Gitaba Zone: CNDD-FDD rebel attack: 1
killed, 1 wounded (amputated) [night of 22 to 23 April].


Political

7. Burundi: Next Vice-President elected

Members of Parliament and senators confirmed Mr Alphonse Marie Kadege of
UPRONA Party as Vice-President for the second transitional phase in
Burundi due to begin on 1 May.  Alphonse Marie Kadege was nominated on
Tuesday [22 April] as the candidate for the vice-presidency, in accordance
with Article 99 of the transitional constitution, following the failure of
the Group of 10 Tutsi parties (G10) to agree on a candidate.

8. President Buyoya ends term of office on 30 April 2003

President Buyoya will end term of office on 30 April, not on 1 May as
stated in the government transition programme.  In his last news
conference as President [23 April], President Buyoya announced he would
never try to regain power by force in the future.  "I will continue to
remain active in politics, and I will be a candidate once elections are
organised in five to six years," he told reporters.

9. Latest Events

UNICEF donates vehicles and motos to the Ministry of Education (African
Girl's Education Initiative Programme (AGEI), FAWE Burundi, Literacy
National Centre, and to Burundi Scouts association [25 April]

General Sipho Binda, Head of the African Mission for Burundi left Pretoria
for Bujumbura, Burundi on Wednesday 23 April, a Spokesperson from South
African defence ministry told AFP.

CNDD-FDD [pro-Hutu National Council for the Defence of Democracy - Forces
for the Defence of Democracy] calls for "decisive negotiations with the
Bujumbura regime to quickly put a stop to the war throughout the entire
county"... [Net Press, 21 April].

Analysis of the bill governing the media in Burundi has been suspended [23
April].

4 Pro-Tutsi parties [ANADDE, PIT, MSP-Inkinzo and RADDES] call on rebel
group to stop attacks on civilians [Burundi news agency Net Press on 23
April].

Burundi's Parliament voted unanimously the statutes of the International
Criminal Court [22 April].


Coordination

10. Contact Group Meeting (for the Minutes access: www.ochaburundi.org)

Chaired by Mr Stefano Severe, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i.  39 attended
(23 April).

Mr Jean-Sé Munié (SCF), focal point for Gitega and Mwaro Provinces, made a
presentation of the last meeting preparing the provincial contingency
planning.

The Observatory for the Governmental Action (OAG) made a presentation on
issues related to reinsertion and reinstallation of IDPs and returnees.

11. GTS meeting

Chaired by Mr Emmanuel Jenje, GTS president, Monday [14 April].


For Information

Nicholas McGowan, Information Officer
OCHA Burundi, PH: (257) 951 681, Email: mcgowann@un.org



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