OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
02 - 08 June 2003


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

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
1. WFP food assistance

The results of the WFP Household Food Economy Assessment (HFEA) rapid
evaluation conducted in the recently war-affected communes of Bubanza
Province indicate that 1,888 households were displaced and hosted by
neighbours who supported their feeding.  The 1,961 hosting households
already live on meagre food reserves.  The assessment teams recommended
food assistance to the total caseload of 19,245 persons from both these
displaced households and to their hosts.

The assessment was carried out after WFP had distributed 88.8 Mt of food
to 18,775 persons displaced by hostilities in that province.  Another 61.6
Mt of emergency food distribution was operated for 16,000 displaced
persons in Kabezi Commune, Bujumbura Rural Province on [Monday 2 and
Tuesday 3 of June].  Moreover, WFP is participating in the joint Food and
Crop Assessment mission (FAO/UNICEF/WFP and MINAGRI) as well starting to
collect complementary information from various provinces to determine the
beneficiary caseload of the targeted distributions for the period between
July and December 2003.

Last week, WFP distributed 1,454.3 Mt of food including 1,289.294 Mt of
targeted rations to 112,200 persons in Bujumbura Rural, Cankuzo, Makamba,
Gitega, Ruyigi and Bubanza provinces, 61.56 Mt of food to social centers
including HIV/AIDS victims, 65.38Mt to FFW projects and 38.37 Mt to
returnees.

2. Returns to Burundi rise amid fears of pressure in Tanzanian camps

The number of Burundian refugees returning home from refugee camps in
western Tanzania has risen sharply over the last few weeks amid rising
concern that their return is not fully voluntary.  In May alone, more than
4,000 Burundian refugees, who have been living in camps in Kibondo,
western Tanzania, (or 30 per cent of spontaneous returns this year) have
gone home to the southern provinces of Ruyigi and Makamba under their own
means despite the prevailing insecurity.  Returning refugees cite the
declining levels of assistance as one of the major reasons for return.  
Other returnees lament new measures imposed by Tanzanian local authorities
in camps over security concerns.  About 15,000 Burundian refugees who had
been living in camps in western Tanzania returned home in May due to what
they said was a "hard life" in the camps, an official from the Office of
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday [4 June].

UNHCR continues to operate weekly return convoys to the relatively safe
provinces of northern Burundi as per the three-party agreement signed in
March 2002 by UNHCR with the governments of Burundi and Tanzania.

3. Returnees as at 31 May 2003

UNHCR (Burundi): Report 10,732 facilitated and 14,195 spontaneous
returnees Y.T.D.

SECURITY

4. Government says Burundi rebels blasted hydroelectric dam

The Burundi Ministry for Defence [Wednesday 4 June] accused the National
Liberation Front (FNL) of sabotaging the Mugere hydroelectric dam,
southeast of Bujumbura [Bujumbura Rural Province, on the eve of 3 June].
The National water and electricity-producing company reported it capacity
has now been reduced, producing just two (2) megawatts instead of eight
(8) generated prior to the attack.

5. General

- Fighting reported in Rugazi Commune, Bubanza Province.

- Rebel attack on a military position (National Highway
Bujumbura-Bubanza), killing one person, at Mugenge, Mpanda Commune
(Bubanza Province) [3 June].

- Rutana Province, Bukemba Commune: CNDD-FDD rebels (according to military
sources) attacked a displacement camp at Butare, stealing goods and money
[2/3 June].

- Cankuzo Province, Mr Jean Mbonabuca, Cendajuru Commune Administrator,
has been reportedly abducted by CNDD-FDD rebels.

- Kayanza Province, Kabarore Commune: FDD rebels led an attack at Jene
zone, stealing goods from shops and homes [3 June].  Eight vehicles were
ambushed on Kayanza-Cibitoke Highway [3 June].

- Bubanza Province, Rugazi Commune: Displaced people from Ruce Zone (due
to insecurity) have been assisted with food and medicines.

- Rebels attack Ministry of Health warehouse in Buterere (Bujumbura
Mairie) [5 June].

POLITICAL

6. President Ndayizeye visits Rwanda

Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye made his first visit to Rwanda [3
June]. During the visit, the President held talks with Rwandan President
Paul Kagame.  The one-day visit discussed problems facing the Great Lakes
Region and bi-lateral relations.

7. Latest Events

- Former President Buyoya attends his first session as Senator [2 June].

- First of June 2003: Tenth anniversary of Sahwanya FRODEBU Party's
victory in the presidential elections [June 1993].

- President Domitien Ndayizeye visited Ruyigi Province, the Vice-President
visited Kayanza Province [31 May].  President Ndayizeye stated that if
CNDD-FDD (Pierre Nkurunziza) refuses to negotiate peace, "the other
alternative is to fight them militarily".

- MSP-Inkinzo Party (G-10 political family) requests immediate release of
members of Framework for the Restoration of State of Law via an open
letter to the Head of State.

- Burundian women demand greater participation of women in
decision-making.

- Former president Pierre Buyoya visits Europe (France, Belgium and
Germany) [4 June].

- Some political leaders from G10 family accuse the Government of lack of
collaboration Interview with Mr Joseph Nzeyimana, RADDES Party Leader].

- Dr Kassi Manlan's assassination (WHO former representative to Burundi):
The General Prosecutor gives 48 hours to Mr François Nyamoya (Lawyer for
Ms Gertrude Nyamoya) and a Radio Publique Africaine representative to
present evidence supporting their accusations implicating state actors
[Press Release, 5 June].

- CNDD-FDD (Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye) and Palipehutu-FNL (Alain
Mugabarabona) combatants expected to be cantoned on 6 June in Muyange
site, Bubanza Province.

- Post transition elections: "The issue will be discussed by all
(political parties)," stated Mr Alphonse Barancira, Minister for
Institutional Reforms, Human Rights and Parliament.

COORDINATION

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

Chaired by Antoine Gérard, OCHA head of Office [4 June].  Participants:
34.

OCHA announced that a workshop of Common Humanitarian Action Plan will be
held on Wednesday and Thursday [11-12 June].

9. GTS

A two-day training workshop has been conducted for GTS provincial
representatives from Cankuzo, Gitega, Makamba, Ruyigi and Bujumbura Rural
[3-4 June].

For Information

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


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